Box Score

MARSHALL, Minn.— Southwest Minnesota State (2-16, 2-12 NSIC) led by nine points at halftime as Jamie Spicer hit 5-of-6 three point attempts in her best offensive performance of the season that was spoiled by 57 second half Minnesota State points, which helped the Mavericks (10-8, 6-8 NSIC) to a 87-70 victory on Saturday night in the R/A Facility.
 
While celebrating a birthday, Spicer had her best performance of the year knocking down her first four three point attempts and finishing 5-of-6 from deep and a career high 17 points. Lauren Hedlund led the Mustangs in scoring with 20 points and had her fourth double-double of the year with 14 rebounds. Caleigh Rodning finished the first quarter with a team leading nine points but finished the night just 4-of-10 on field goal attempts and 13 points.
 
Southwest Minnesota State shot 52 percent (15-of-29) from the floor in the first half that included 6-of-11 shooting on three point attempts. Rodning tied Spicer for the team lead in scoring for the first half with nine points as Spicer went a perfect 3-of-3 from behind the three point line.
 
Minnesota State went on a 6-0 run in under a minute and a half to take a 12-7 lead late in the first quarter. SMSU responded by outscoring the Mavericks 14-5 in the final three minutes of the opening quarter while MSU went just 2-of-7 shooting to end the first.
 
The Mustangs pushed their lead to nine after Spicer knocked down back-to-back treys in the second quarter giving SMSU its largest lead of the game. The two teams traded buckets ending in a made layup from Hedlund to give the Mustangs a nine point lead heading into halftime.
 
Southwest Minnesota State had just three made field goal attempts during a third quarter in which the Mavericks outscored the Mustangs 28-14. MSU carried a five point lead into the final quarter after Spicer hit another open three point attempt in the final seconds of the third.
 
SMSU finished just 6-of-19 shooting combined in the second half while Minnesota State had as many made field goals as the Mustangs attempted going 19-of-36 (53 percent) from the floor in the final two quarters. The Mavericks hit 3-of-5 fourth quarter three point attempts to finish with 57 total second half points in MSU's 20^th consecutive victory over SMSU.
 
The Mustangs will continue their four-game home stand next weekend as they host MSU Moorhead on Friday night at 6 p.m., followed by Hawaiian Night on Saturday night against Northern State which will tip off at 5 p.m.