MINOT, N.D. – Bree Holleman scored a career-high 23 points connecting on 7 of 10 shots from the field, including five 3-pointers, to lead Southwest Minnesota State to a 72-60 non-conference victory over Minot State (N.D.) on Thursday night in Minot, N.D.

Abby Kenealy added 20 points for SMSU (1-1), which held a 37-27 halftime lead.

Minot State, which joins the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference next season, drops to 2-2 on the season.  MSU defeated the University of Mary on Tuesday.

Carly Boag led the Beavers with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

The SMSU defense limited Minot State to 33.3 percent shooting and held a 44-34 rebound advantage. 

SMSU finished the night shooting 48 percent from the field (27 of 56), including 7 of 16 from 3-point range.

The two teams traded the lead in the game's first eight minutes before SMSU put together a run to build a double-digit lead.  Trailing 13-12 at the 12-minute mark, SMSU answered with a 15-4 over the next three and a half minutes to build a 27-17 lead.

MSU cut the deficit to 27-21 with 6:50 left in the half, before SMSU answered again and extended the lead to 13 points at 37-24 with 3:44 on the clock following a 3-pointer by Holleman.  The Beavers would score the final three points of the half to cut the lead to 37-27 at halftime.

The Mustangs would maintain a double-digit lead for much of the second half, including pushing its lead to 60-42 with 8:28 remaining in the game.

Hope Bonlander led SMSU with eight rebounds and six points with teammate Taylor Voss adding six points and six rebounds.  Jessie Watts chipped in with seven rebounds and five assists.

Southwest Minnesota State returns to action on Nov. 25-26 at the Nova Southeastern (Fla.) Classic in Fort Lauderdale.  SMSU opens play on Friday, Nov. 25, versus Palm Beach Atlantic University (Fla.) at 1 p.m. CST.