MARSHALL, Minn. – Courtney McCarthy scored a career-high 18 points and added a career-high five rebounds and three assists to help Southwest Minnesota State to a 75-59 win over Upper Iowa University on Saturday afternoon in Marshall.
Abby Kenealy poured in 18 points for the Mustangs, scoring in double-digits for the eighth time this season.
SMSU improves to 3-7 overall, including 2-4 in NSIC play while the Peacocks drop to 0-9, 0-5 in conference.
Bree Holleman added 11 points for the Mustangs going 4 of 11 from the floor, including 2 of 6 from 3-point range. Whitney Kieffer led Upper Iowa offensively scoring 21 points on 7 of 13 shooting. Kieffer added six points from the free throw line. The Peacocks finished the game shooting 88 percent (18 of 21) from the free throw line. UIU did not miss a free throw until midway through the second half.
SMSU won the ball control game, turning the Peacocks' over 27 times on the night. The Mustangs finished with a season-low 11 turnovers. SMSU shot 44 percent (29 of 66) from the floor and were able to hold the Peacocks to just 36 percent (18 of 49) from the field.
The Mustangs got a lot of support from its bench in the first half led by McCarthy, who finished with 11 points on 5 of 7 shooting, including a 3-pointer. McCarthy also led the Mustangs on the glass grabbing three rebounds.
SMSU shot 43 percent (13 of 30) in the first half while holding the Peacocks to just 33 percent (9 of 27) from the field. The Peacocks turned the ball over 13 times in the first half allowing the Mustangs to score 12 points off turnovers.
The Mustangs suffered from poor free throw shooting in the first half connecting on just 8 of 19 from the charity stripe. The Mustangs finished the game with a season-low 25 percent (4 of 16) from the free throw line.
SMSU opened the game on a 9-2 run and never looked back from there taking a 35-26 lead into halftime. From that point on the Mustangs would never lose the lead, leading by as much as 23 during the half.
Laura TerHark hit a 3-pointer for the Peacocks to come within seven at 46-39 in favor of SMSU but the Mustangs would push its lead back to 10 with Kenealy connecting on a 3-point play.
Southwest Minnesota State will return to action on Monday, Jan. 2 on the road taking on Minnesota, Crookston at 6 p.m. SMSU will continue NSIC play on Tuesday at MSU Moorhead at 6 p.m.
