DULUTH, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State shot a season-high 94 percent (17 of 18) from the free throw line but turned the ball over 24 times in the game falling to Minnesota Duluth 58-54 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference basketball action on Friday night.

SMSU has now lost four straight games falling to 5-11 on the season, including 4-8 in NSIC play while the Bulldogs improve to 10-6, 7-5 in conference play.

The Mustangs rallied from a five-point halftime deficit but were not able to complete the comeback failing to score on its final possession with two seconds remaining in the game. SMSU missed a layup attempt and fouled on the rebound allowing the Bulldogs to hit one of two free throws to take a 58-54 lead over the Mustangs.

Bree Holleman led the Mustangs in scoring finishing with 14 points, connecting on 4 of 7 from the field, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range. Jessie Watts added a season-high, matching her career-high with 11 points for the Mustangs, going 5 of 5 from the free throw line. Hannah Beeler also added 11 points for the Mustangs on 4 of 6 shooting.

The Bulldogs were led by Courtney Doucette's 14 points. Emma Van Winkle was the only other player to reach double-digits for UMD finishing with 10 points.

Watts was fouled while attempting a 3-pointer with four seconds left in the first half and she hit all three free throws to bring the Mustangs within five at 29-24 heading into the locker room at halftime.

The Mustangs finished the first half shooting just 35 percent (7 of 20) from the field. SMSU connected on 7 of 7 from the free throw line in the half to keep itself in the game.

The Mustangs came out of intermission and went on a 7-2 run to tie the game at 31. Beeler fueled SMSU's comeback scoring three consecutive baskets to tie the game. The Bulldogs would follow that with a 15-4 run in the next five minutes to take a 46-35 lead.

SMSU cut the lead down to six, at 46-40, on consecutive free throws by Holleman with 9:34 remaining in the game. The Bulldogs would push their lead back to 11 (53-42) after a 7-2 run.

The Mustangs stormed right back with a 12-2 run, capped off by a Holleman triple to come within one at 55-54 with 4:12 remaining in the game. Neither team would hit a field goal in the final four minutes of the game while the Bulldogs picked up three more points from the free throw line to take a 58-54 win over the Mustangs on Friday night.   

SMSU finished the game shooting 37 percent (16 of 43) from the field, including 5 of 10 from 3-point range. UMD won the game on the glass finishing with 38 rebounds while the Mustangs grabbed 31 boards in the game.

Southwest Minnesota State will look to snap its four-game skid tomorrow afternoon taking on Bemidji State University at 4 p.m. at the BSU Gymnasium in Bemidji, Minn.