Box Score

MARSHALL, Minn. — The Southwest Minnesota State women's basketball started the game slow, scoring just 18 points in the first 20 minutes, as it fell to Nebraska Kearney, 74-50 on Thursday in the R/A Facility.
 
SMSU falls to 0-3 overall, while UNK improves to 2-2.
 
Southwest Minnesota State finished shooting 33.3 percent from the floor on 18 of 54 and hit 10 of 13 from the charity stripe for a 76.9 percent mark. Nebraska Kearney finished hitting 31 of 67 shots from the floor, while adding 5 of 6 from the free-throw line.
 
Abby Connell cashed in on 4 of 6 from behind the arc and Lauren Hedlund hit 4 of 5 from the foul line to lead the Mustang offense with 12 points apiece, while Taylor Holicky added nine. Hope Bonlander paced the defense with six rebounds with Holicky and Taylor Silva pulled down five each.
 
The Lopers led the whole game and led 19-8 after the first quarter of play. UNK pushed its lead in the second quarter to a game-high 24 points after the Mustangs were scoreless for the last three and half minutes.
 
Hedlund and Holicky led the Mustangs at the break with six points, while Silva led with three rebounds.
 
After the half, the Lopers kept a 20-point lead through the third quarter. SMSU showed some spark in the final quarter, after cutting the lead down to 17 in the fourth quarter at the 6:19 mark after a 3-pointer by Connell. SMSU struggled to score the rest of the game, as it was out scored 7-14.
 
UNK controlled the paint as it totaled 36 points to SMSU's 24 in the box. The Lopers also turned 16 Mustang turnovers into 20 points.
 
Southwest Minnesota State will open up Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play next Tuesday, as it travels to Sioux Falls for a 6 p.m. tip off.