BOX SCORE

MARSHALL, Minn. – Annessa Rosch scored a career-high 17 points with four 3-pointers, while also recording four assists, three rebounds and two steals to lead Southwest Minnesota State to a 71-55 non-conference victory over South Dakota Tech on Tuesday night.

SMSU (4-18) shot 51 percent (28 of 55) from the field and dished out a season-high 20 assists. 

South Dakota Tech (14-9) was held to just 29 percent (19 of 65) shooting, the lowest by an SMSU opponent this season.

Ellen Degler had a solid game for SMSU with 14 points on 7 of 8 shooting with seven rebounds and four assists.  Rebekah Rolling (13) and Alison Nagel (10) rounded out SMSU's double figure scoring.

SMSU trailed 9-6 in the game's opening five minutes, but rallied with an 11-0 run capped by a Rebekah Rolling 3-pointer with 10 minutes and 15 seconds remaining in the half to build a 17-9 lead.

SMSU pushed the lead to nine points on a pair of occasions in the half, before settling for a 33-27 halftime lead.

Degler led SMSU with eight points in the half along with four rebounds and two assists.

The Mustangs shot 46 percent in the opening half with three 3-pointers, while SDSMT shot just 37 percent and committed 10 turnovers.

The Hardrockers cut the SMSU lead to 33-31 in the first two minutes of the second half, but SMSU put together a quick 9-0 run to push the lead to 42-31 with 15:34 remaining following a 3-pointer by Rosch and a layup by Degler.

South Dakota Tech made one final run, trimming the deficit to 42-36 with 14:21 left, but again SMSU answered, this time with an 8-0 run capped by a Rosch 3-pointer to extend the lead to 50-36 and the Mustangs never looked back.

Southwest Minnesota State returns to Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play on Friday night hosting the University of Mary with tip-off slated for 6 p.m.