BOX SCORE

MARSHALL, Minn. - One night after upsetting the No. 17 team in the nation, the Southwest Minnesota State women's basketball team (2-4, 1-1 NSIC) was given the tough task of the No. 18 ranked team in the country Wayne State (Neb.) (5-1, 2-0 NSIC). The Mustangs fell behind early and were never able to recover falling to the Wildcats 60-44 in NSIC play in Marshall.

Tori Fink was the only Mustang to hit double-digits recording 13 points to lead SMSU. Wayne State's Mara Hjelle led all players with 25 points. The Mustangs were doomed early by poor shooting. SMSU was just 8 of 29 shooting in the first half. Wayne State shot just below 50 percent in the first half going 11 of 23 from the floor.

The Mustangs trailed the Wildcats right from the opening tip. Wayne State jumped out to a 5-0 start before SMSU's Laura Kramer put the Mustangs on the board with her first field goal. Fink was the only answer to the Wildcats in the first half shooting 2 for 2 from behind the 3-point line. The senior hit both her shots late in the first half to bring the Mustangs within nine just before the half.

Hjelle dominated the post for the Wildcats picking up 17 of her 25 points in the first half. Wayne State picked up 20 points in the paint in the first half and finished the game with 26 points in the paint.

Abby Kenealy started out slow for SMSU going shooting 1 of 6 in the first half. Kenealy got some good looks in the second half, finishing with six points. The Mustangs gave the Wildcats too many shots from the free throw line, WSC shot 80 percent from the charity stripe. Hjelle had more attempts from the free throw line than the Mustangs did as a team going 9 of 12 from the line.

Ellen Degler came off the bench for the Mustangs picking up seven boards and four points. Kramer finished the game with six rebounds for SMSU. The Mustangs were able to force 20 turnovers, six from the NSIC preseason player of the year Ashley Arlen. SMSU held Wayne State's leading scorer Arlen to 11 points. Arlen was averaging 16.6 points per game coming into the game.

Southwest Minnesota State will pick up NSIC play next weekend when they meet St. Cloud State on Friday, Dec. 10 at 6 p.m. The Mustangs will then take on Concordia-St. Paul on Saturday at 4 p.m. in St. Paul.