DULUTH, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State women's basketball team fell 60-39 to Minnesota Duluth on Saturday night at the Romano Gymnasium, despite SMSU's strong start to gain an early lead. 

SMSU (4-6, 1-4 NSIC) shot 26 percent from the field, 19 percent from the three-point line, and 80 percent from the free throw line while UMD (5-2, 4-1 NSIC) shot 43 percent from the field, 22 percent from the three-point line, and 67 percent from the free-throw line.

Meleah Reinhart led SMSU in scoring with 11 points and Erin Baxter chipped in six points. Caleigh Rodning and Sara Teske each led the team with seven rebounds.

The Mustangs opened the game with a 9-0 run to jump to an early lead, which they would hold until four minutes to go in the second period. They lead until UMD's Sarah Grow scored to rally for a 19-18 lead. UMD pulled away to finish the second period with a 23-20 lead.

SMSU trailed until Rodning scored a layup at 8:20 in the third quarter to tie the game at 27-27. UMD responded with an 18-1 run to finish the third quarter with a 45-28 lead headed into the final quarter.

UMD's Sarah Grow led the Bulldogs with 20 points while Ann Simonet pitched in 14.

Southwest Minnesota State (4-6, 1-4 NSIC) returns to action on Dec. 30 at Sioux Falls for a 2 p.m. tip-off.