MARSHALL, Minn. – Winona State University took the lead just over one minute in the second half and never looked back taking a 67-62 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference victory over Southwest Minnesota State on Friday night in Marshall.

The Warriors hit eight 3-pointers, led by Becca Friestleben, who connected on 4 of 6 shooting from 3-point range for Winona State. Michelle McDonald led all players with 18 points in the game. With the win WSU improves to 7-3, 2-2 NSIC while the Mustangs fall to 2-7, 1-4 in conference play.

Ten Mustangs scored for the Mustangs in the game, led by Bree Holleman, who finished with 12 points and a season-high six rebounds. She was the only Mustang to reach double-digits in points. Hannah Beeler was 2 of 2 from 3-point range finishing with eight points.

Despite shooting a season-high 53 percent (22 of 41) from the floor in the game, the Mustangs weren't able to hit crucial shots to hang on to its lead over the Warriors. Winona State shot 34 percent in the first half but improved to 45 percent in the second half connecting on 24 of 53 shots in the game.  

Southwest Minnesota State carried a 31-26 lead into halftime shooting 50 percent (10 of 20) and holding the Warriors to 34 percent shooting from the floor (10 of 29).

Beeler led the Mustangs in scoring through one half finishing with eight points hitting two big 3-pointers for the Mustangs. SMSU was 4-8 from 3-point range in the first half with Holleman knocking down two 3-pointers from behind the arc.

The Warriors found themselves in foul trouble early in the first half picking up 10 team fouls. WSU had three players in the starting lineup with two fouls after the first.

Lynn helped the Mustangs hold onto a first half lead scoring six points in the first half going 4 of 5 from the free throw line.

SMSU had nine offensive rebounds in the first half and benefitted from nine second chance points. Becca Friestleben kept the Warriors on track in the first half leading all players with 11 points in the half. She connected on 4 of 9 shooting from the field, including 3 of 5 from 3-point range. 

After taking over with the lead just two minutes into the second half, Winona State led by as much as nine in the second half staying just out of the reach of the Mustangs.

Katie Wolff gave the Warriors a 33-31 lead almost two minutes into the second half knocking down a 3-pointer for the Warriors. WSU hit four 3-pointers in the second half. Winona State took its largest lead of the evening on a field goal by McDonald with 7:29 remaining in the game to give the Warriors a 59-50 lead.

SMSU begain to eat away at the lead followed by two free throws by Ellen Degler and a bucket by Courtney McCarthy. McCarthy finished with five points for SMSU. The Mustangs would cut WSU's lead to just two after consecutive field goals from Abby Kenealy and a bucket by Hope Bonlander with two minutes left in the game. 

Winona State held SMSU's leading scorer Kenealy to seven points in the game. Winona State's Katie Wolff hit seven free throws in the last minute of the game to help the Warriors seal the victory.

Southwest Minnesota State will close-out its four-game homestand tomorrow night hosting Upper Iowa at 4 p.m.