Box Score

ST. JOSEPH, Mo.– Southwest Minnesota State pulled in 40 rebounds including 11 on the offensive end and Lauren Hedlund came just one board shy of notching her first double-double of the year, but the Mustangs were unable to overcome a several mishaps in an 83-49 loss at the hands of Fort Hays State (Kan.)
 
Hedlund and Taylor Holicky led the team in scoring with nine points each but the Mustangs suffered from 25 turnovers and shot just 31.3 percent from the field. Fort Hays didn't let Mustang mishaps go to waste and held a 23-4 advantage for the game in points off turnovers and also had a 14-0 advantage in fast break scoring on the night.

Fort Hays State had four different players reach double figures in scoring including a game high 16 from Jill Faxon and 12 from Kacey Kennett who went 4-of-7 from downtown coming off of the Tigers' bench. The Tigers shot 48.5 percent from the field and 38.2 percent from three pointers.
 
SMSU trailed the Tigers by just five after the first quarter but For Hays would close out the first half with eight of its points off SMSU turnovers to help pull away in a 25-13 second quarter to giving them a 17 point advantage going into halftime.
 
The Mustangs had their worst quarter shooting out of the halftime break going just 2-for-16 as a team in the third quarter but rebounded in the fourth with its best offensive quarter of the game. SMSU still suffered from another six turnovers in the final quarter as Fort Hays extended its lead to as large as 37 before finishing the NSIC/MIAA Challenge with the 83-49 win.
  
SMSU (0-2, 0-0 NSIC) will continue its non-conference schedule next weekend as they travel to Sioux Falls to play William Jewell (Mo.) next Friday at 6 p.m., followed by a game against South Dakota Tech next Saturday at 4 p.m.