BOX SCORE

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – St. Cloud State snapped a three-game losing streak, connecting on six free throws in the final two minutes of the game, to rally for a 65-62 victory over Southwest Minnesota State in women's basketball on Friday night at Halenbeck Hall.

SMSU, which suffered its 11th straight loss, was led by Rebekah Rolling with 17 points, four steals and four rebounds. Ellen Degler added a season-high 16 points on 8 of 11 shooting, while Mikayla Saathoff also had a strong game with 10 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. It's the first career double-double for Saathoff.

SMSU (2-11, 0-9 NSIC) played the game without leading scorer and rebounder, Alison Nagel, who suffered an injury in practice on Thursday.

SMSU used an early 7-0 run to build a 9-3 lead in the game's first six and a half minutes, before SCSU (9-4, 5-4 NSIC) rallied with a 16-5 to take a 19-14 advantage at the 9:49 mark. The Mustangs trailed 21-16 with nine minutes left in the half before a Degler field goal and a three-point play by Bree Holleman tied the game at 21.

SMSU would regain the lead at 25-23 with the 6:13 remaining following an Emilee Duske field goal. The teams would then exchange the lead several times for the remainder of the half before Degler gave SMSU a halftime lead connecting on her sixth field goal of the half to make the score 33-32.

Degler led SMSU with 12 first half points on 6 of 8 shooting with five rebounds.

SMSU maintained the lead for much of the first five minutes of the second half with Saathoff giving SMSU a 41-37 lead with 14:37 left. SCSU rallied with nine straight points to take a 46-41 advantage with 12:39 remaining, before SMSU answered with a 12-2 run over the next 3:45 to build a 53-48 lead with eight minutes left.

SCSU came back and used a short 5-0 run near the four-minute mark to regain the lead at 59-57. Rolling made one of two free throws moments later and was followed by two free throws by Saathoff to give SMSU a 60-59 lead, before the SCSU went back in front on a pair of Jessica free throws with 1:49 remaining.

On SMSU's next possession, Rolling missed a jumper and SCSU was able to secure the rebound. SCSU made two free throws on its next possession to build a 63-60 advantage, before SMSU cut the deficit to 63-62 on a jumper from Hannah Beeler with 25 seconds remaining. SMSU was forced to foul and SCSU's Sam Price – who entered the game shooting 96 percent from the foul line – made both free throws to give the Huskies a 65-62 lead with 12 second left. Following timeouts by both squads, SMSU had one final attempt to tie the game, but Holleman's 3-pointer from the left wing rimmed out and SCSU held on for its seventh straight win over SMSU.

Benson led SCSU with 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

SMSU ended the night shooting 45 percent (23 of 52) from the field, including 3 of 11 from 3-point range. The Mustangs held a 41-32 rebound advantage, but committed 24 turnovers, including 14 in the second half.

Southwest Minnesota State continues its two-game road trip tomorrow taking on Minnesota Duluth (8-5, 5-4 NSIC) with tip-off slated for 4 p.m. in Duluth.