MARSHALL, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State rallied from an 11-point deficit in the second half but the comeback attempt fell short as Minnesota Duluth was able to hang on for a 59-53 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference victory over the Mustangs on Saturday night.

UMD improves to 16-8, 13-7 NSIC while SMSU falls to 6-19, 5-16 NSIC finishing the season 3-9 at the R/A Facility on the season. Shelly Stemper and Katrina Newman both pitched in 16 points for the Bulldogs while Courtney Doucette finished with 11 points knocking down three 3-pointers in the game.

Southwest Minnesota State seniors Abby Kenealy, Taylor Voss and Courtney McCarthy all played the final game of their careers at the R/A Facility this afternoon.

Abby Kenealy led the Mustangs with 12 points and six rebounds, scoring in double-digits for the 61st time in her career.

The Mustangs suffered from poor shooting in the first half, missing its first three shot attempts on the night. SMSU shot just 20 percent (5 of 24) from the field, including 1 of 4 from 3-point range. The Bulldogs shot 31 percent (11 of 35) while knocking down three of its five 3-pointers in the first half.

The Bulldogs made the Mustangs pay for turnovers in the game scoring 23 points off of SMSU's turnovers.

SMSU trailed by as much as 12 points twice in the second half but were able to strike a comeback with five minutes remaining in the game. The Mustangs went on a 9-0 capped off by a long 3-pointer by Jessie Watts from the top of the key to come within three at 54-51 with 2:22 to play.

The Mustangs forced two big turnovers in that stretch running the full-court press. The Bulldogs came down and a scored to take a 56-51 lead before adding a three free throws as time slipped away on the Mustangs.

Southwest Minnesota State will conclude the 2011-12 season next Saturday traveling to Mankato, Minn. to take on Minnesota State at 2 p.m. at the Taylor Center.