> Box Score

MARSHALL, Minn. – Chelsea Nooker scored a career-high 26 points on 10 of 16 shooting to lead St. Cloud State to a 68-60 victory over Southwest Minnesota State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference women's basketball on Friday night at the R/A Facility.

Lauren Hedlund led SMSU (2-17, 2-13 NSIC) with 14 points and nine rebounds, while Ellen Degler added 13 points and eight rebounds.

SCSU (12-7, 8-7 NSIC) finished the night shooting 47 percent (26 of 55) from the field and connected on seven 3-pointers. SMSU shot 42 percent (23 of 55) from the field and made just 4 of 13 from 3-point range.

The score was tied in the opening three and a half minutes at 6-6, before SCSU used a 9-2 run over the next five minutes to push the lead to 15-8 with 11:30 left in the half.

SCSU would later extend the lead to 27-18—its largest lead of the half—before SMSU used a 7-0 run, highlighted by a 3-pointer by Whitney Miller, to make the score 27-25 at the 3:09 mark. SMSU scored just two points the remainder of the half as SCSU took a 32-27 advantage into the break.

SMSU shot 48 percent in the opening half, but turned the ball over nine times. SCSU shot 46 percent in the first half with six turnovers.

The Huskies pushed the lead to 44-33 with 14 minutes left in the game, but a quick 6-0 run by the Mustangs, closed by a 3-pointer by Annessa Rosch made the score 44-38.

SMSU later cut the deficit to 48-43 with 10:27 remaining, but SCSU answered with a 14-5 run in the next four minutes to build its largest lead at 62-48 with 6:43 left in the game.

SMSU wouldn't go away and cut the lead to 65-60 with 1:22 on the clock following a layup by Whitney Miller, but SCSU made three of four free throws in the final 1:17 to seal the win.

Southwest Minnesota State continues action tomorrow hosting Minnesota Duluth for Hawaiian Night starting at 5 p.m.