> Box Score
MARSHALL, Minn. — Annessa Rosch led Southwest Minnesota State with 22 points in a 53-52 upset win over No. 4 Northern State Friday night in the R/A Facility.
Northern State took a last second shot to win the game with two seconds left on the clock, but could not convert.
SMSU (2-13, 2-9 NSIC) finished shooting 34 percent form the floor in the win and in the process defeated a ranked team since defeating No. 17 Augustana in 2010. The Mustangs held the high-powered Wolves to 52 points—15 below their average—and the lowest points that the Mustangs allowed this season.
Rosch led the Mustangs in scoring and also recorded six assists and five steals.
Emilee Duske and
Lauren Hedlund both tallied nine points while grabbing eight and six rebounds, respectfully.
NSU (15-2, 9-2 NSIC) was held to just 52 total points—lowest of the season—while shooting 38 percent from the field. Rachel Krogman led the Wolves with 16 points and pulled down nine rebounds. Paige Waytashek recorded 13 points and three steals while Sadie Stotesbery contributed 10 points and eight rebounds.
Northern State came out with confidence as they held the Mustangs scoreless for the first seven minutes of the half. SMSU would take a quick timeout and come out and go on an 11-2 to pull with in a point at 12-11 with 13:00 minutes left in the first.
The Mustangs would go on to take their first lead of the game at 11:17. Both teams would fight to take the lead going down the stretch but Hedlund scored a jumper with 3:45 left to give the Mustangs the lead back. Rosch scored with 2:57 left in the half to go up three—largest of the half. SMSU would continue to lead the rest of the half and would lead for the first time since playing U-Mary earlier this season, 27-26 at halftime.
After the break, SMSU pushed its lead to 36-29 with 14:11 left in the game. The Mustangs lead the rest of the half and as many as 10 with 10:05 left to play. The Wolves would cut the Mustangs lead down to one point with 2:09 left but SMSU held on as Duske made a layup with 1:50 left to go up three.
NSU had the ball with 16 seconds left and failed to score in the final seconds.
Southwest Minnesota State will host MSU Moorhead tomorrow at 5 p.m. in the R/A Facility.
