BOX SCORE

MARSHALL, Minn. – Laura Kramer scored 10 points and recorded a team-high seven rebounds with four blocked shots to lead Southwest Minnesota State to a 63-59 victory over Upper Iowa in NSIC women's basketball on Friday in Marshall.

The victory was SMSU's fifth in the last eight games and avenges a loss earlier this season at Upper Iowa. UIU (1-17, 1-13 NSIC) lost for the ninth straight time and is now 0-11 on the road this season.

Lucia Puchelova tied a season-high with 10 points and six rebounds for SMSU, while Tori Fink dished out a career-high eight assists and chipped in with eight points.

SMSU used a strong defensive first half to build a 13-point halftime lead. The Mustangs trailed 19-18 with 8:19 left in the opening half, before holding UIU scoreless for seven minutes, and turning the deficit into a 30-19 lead late in the half, before settling for a 35-22 halftime lead.

The Mustangs shot 56 percent (15 of 27) from the field in the opening half, while limiting the Peacocks to just 27 percent (8 of 30) from the field.

SMSU pushed the lead to 37-22 early in the second half, but UIU rallied behind 52 percent shooting in the half, to cut the lead to 43-38 with nine minutes left in the game. SMSU then staged its only rally, a 9-0 run over the next three minutes to extend the lead to 52-38 at the 6:33 mark.

Upper Iowa was led by Lana Otting and Lyndsay Westgaard, who both scored 13 points.

Southwest Minnesota State will close out its four-game homestand tomorrow night taking on Winona State for “Hawaiian Night” starting at 6 p.m.