MARSHALL, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State outscored Bemidji State 43-21 in the second half on its way to a 72-57 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference women's basketball victory on Friday night. The win snapped an 11-game losing streak for SMSU, who had not won since a 64-57 victory over MSU Moorhead on Jan. 3.

Bree Holleman led all players with 18 points on 5 of 11 shooting, including 4 of 10 from 3-point range. She was 4 of 4 from the free throw line helping the Mustangs to a 22 of 27 (81 percent) performance from the charity stripe on the night. Hannah Beeler was one rebound shy of her first career double-double finishing with 17 points and nine rebounds.

Bemidji State hit five 3-pointers in the first half with Morgan Lee and Elli Wessling each hit two. Wessling finished the first half with 14 points on 4 of 4 shooting while going 4 of 4 at the free throw line. The Beavers were 13 of 27 (48 percent) from the field while the Mustangs were held to 8 of 27 from the field (30 percent). 

Holleman hit two big 3-pointers for the Mustangs knocking down a three to cut the Beavers' lead to three at 12-9 four minutes into the half. Holleman finished with 11 points in the half connecting on 3 of 6 from 3-point range.

The Mustangs cut BSU's lead to one at 12-11 on a bucket by Beeler before the Beavers went on a 13-point run to take a 26-15 lead with 7:32 to play. The Mustangs would cut into the lead shooting 10 of 11 from the free throw line. Beeler hit five consecutive free throws in the last four minutes of the half to help the Mustangs go into the locker room trailing 36-29.

Southwest Minnesota State went on a 9-0 run starting with Courtney McCarthy hitting two free throws followed by a holleman three and baskets by Taylor Voss and Ellen Degler to tie the game at 40. After a missed basket by the Beavers Hope Bonlander nailed a 3-pointer to vie the Mustangs a 43-40 lead, one it would not lose for the remainder of the game.

Voss finished with 10 points and six rebounds while Bonlander finished with nine points and two steals. Despite spending much of the second half on the bench in foul trouble, Abby Kenealy finished with nine points, connecting on 5 of 6 from the free throw line.

The Mustangs led 56-51 with 7:21 to play in the game before going on a 10-2 run taking a 66-53. SMSU got a balanced scoring attack from its bench as they outscored the Beavers bench 31-24. The Mustangs forced 15 turnovers in the game, leading to 13 points.

Southwest Minnesota State will play its final home game of the season tomorrow night as the Mustangs host Minnesota Duluth at 4 p.m. SMSU will honor three seniors who will play their final game at the R/A Facility tomorrow afternoon.