>Box Score
WINONA, Minn. — Winona State cashed in on 8 for 16 3-pointers as the Warriors defeated Southwest Minnesota State, 56-48 Saturday in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play in the McCown Gymnasium.
SMSU (1-13, 1-9 NSIC) was held shooting 34 percent from the floor and just 25 percent from behind the arc.
Lauren Hedlund paced the Mustangs as she scored nine points and grabbed five rebounds.
Hope Bonlander,
Annessa Rosch and
Emilee Duske all contributed eight. Rosch recorded a team-high six rebounds while Bonlander tallied four.
WSU (11-3, 7-3 NSIC) was lead by Alexis Foley as she poured in 15 points and grabbed six rebounds. Tara Roelofs recorded 10 points while Hannah McGlone contributed seven. Emily Passint controlled the boards as she pulled down a team-high seven boards while Kayla Timmerman put up three blocks for the Warriors.
Southwest Minnesota State defense came out with energy as the Mustangs held the Warrior offense to 29 percent in the first half.
SMSU took the lead at 11-10 with 11:08 left in the half, but WSU would retake the lead and pushed its lead to four keyed from a three by Jenny Tuttle with 7:58 left in the first.
SMSU would tie the game up at 15-15 with 6:03 left in the half but the Warriors would go on a 12-3 run and have their largest lead of the half, 27-18 with 1:38 left in the first.
Neither team would score the rest of the half as Winona State led, 27-18 at half time.
SMSU was held under 30 percent shooting from the floor with just a 25 percent mark in the first half and held under 20 points in a half for the first time since SMSU played Sioux Falls on Dec. 12, 2014.
Winona State would push its lead to the largest of the game after the break to 17 with 14:53 left in the game. The Warriors held a comfortable lead the rest of the game but the Mustangs wouldn't go down with out a fight as they fought to pull within six at 2:20 after a Hedlund layup.
WSU would hold off SMSU to earn its second win of the weekend, 56-48.
Southwest Minnesota State will return home for a pair of NSIC games versus Northern State on Jan. 9 before playing MSU Moorhead on Jan. 10. Follow SMSUmustangs.com for more information.
