BOX SCORE

MARSHALL, Minn. - The No. 20 Minnesota State Mavericks cruised to a 89-58 win over Southwest Minnesota State to conclude the 22-game Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference schedule. MSU finishes the season 18-10 overall, 15-7 in the NSIC, while the Mustangs finish 4-22 overall, 2-20 in the NSIC.

SMSU tied a season-high with 24 turnovers in the loss. 18 came in the first half. MSU finished with 13 steals.

Minnesota State forced 18 SMSU turnovers in the first half and turned them into 18 points. SMSU led 9-5 four minutes into the game, but the Mavericks stormed to 25-9 lead with a 20-0 run over the next six minutes. MSU closed the final two minutes of the first half on a 5-0 run to surge to a 24 point lead heading into the locker room. The Mavericks never looked back in the second half as they cruised to victory.

Bree Holleman had a game-high 15 points for the Mustangs in her final game at the R/A Facility. She finished 5 of 12 from the floor, including 3 of 4 from behind the arc with five rebounds and two assists. Alison Nagel, who also was playing in her final game, finished with 13 points to round out SMSU's double-digit scorers.

SMSU finished 20 of 47 from the field as a team, while MSU connected on 27 of 55 shots, including 9 of 22 from long range.

MSU went to the free throw line 30 times and converted on 26 chances. MSU handled SMSU down low as the Mavericks out-scored SMSU 34-20 in the paint.

SMSU, the eighth seed in the south, will travel to play Northern State, the one seed in the north, in the first round of the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament Feb. 26 in Aberdeen, S.D.  NSU won the regular season match-up 57-46 on Jan. 3.