MARSHALL, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State snapped a 23-game losing streak to Minnesota State in NSIC women's basketball with a 74-73 victory over the Mavericks on Friday night at the R/A Facility.

SMSU advanced to 4-3 overall and 1-1 in the NSIC while MSU dropped to 4-2 overall and 1-1 in the NSIC. The last time the Mustangs defeated the Mavericks was during the 2004-05 season in Marshall.

Erin Baxter led the Mustangs with 19 points while Meleah Reinhart added 15 and Abuk Akoi added a career-high 12 points. Sara Teske led the team with five steals and Akoi led with five blocks.

The Mustangs recorded 20 steals, marking the first time reaching the 20 steal mark since Nov. 27, 2009, against Chadron State.

SMSU shot 49 percent (28 of 57) from the field and 18 percent from beyond the arc while the MSU shot 44 percent (28 of 63) and 57 percent (8 of 14) from the three-point line.

MSU was led by Rylee Menster with 12 points, followed by Kirsten Klitzke and Tayla Stuttley with 10.

MSU opened the game scoring a 6-1 lead after Drost goes for three consecutive baskets. With a layup from Reinhart, a pair of free throws and a layup from Sarah Buysse, the Mustangs were able to tie the game at 6-6. The Mustangs trailed again for the remainder of the first period until two free throws from Erin Baxter would tie the game at 20-20 with seconds to go. The Mavericks created a lead at the near end with three seconds to go as MSU's Monica Muth connects with a jumper.

The Mustangs opened the second period with 12-1 run to gain a 32-23 lead. The Mustangs held the lead throughout despite an 8-0 run by the Mavericks to end the second half 36-33.

MSU extended its run going for an 11-0 run to go up 44-38 with 6:35 to go in the third quarter. SMSU scored two layups from Akoi and Baxter. Caleigh Rodning and Reinhart then went to line to make all four free-throws to come within two points. As the Mustangs' trailed 46-44, Mateya Hutton drained a three-point in the corner to put the Mustangs up 47-46. SMSU maintained the lead going into the fourth quarter, 55-53.  

SMSU opened the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run with a three-pointer from Rodning and two from Baxter. MSU was able to tie the game at 69-69 with two three-pointers and a layup but the Mustangs kept the lead as Rodning made two free-throws.

With the Mustangs up 71-69, Rodning earned a steal followed by a layup from Reinhart to create a four-point lead. MSU is followed and goes to the line to come within two points at 73-71.

With 14 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Reinhart went to the line to advance the Mustangs' lead to 74-71. MSU's Rachel Schumski scored a layup with 10 seconds left to make the score 74-73. SMSU turned the ball over on the ensuing inbound pass, but MSU's Brooke Tonsfeldt missed a layup as time expired and the Mustangs secured the victory.  

Southwest Minnesota State (4-3, 1-1 NSIC) hosts Concordia-St. Paul (4-3, 0-2 NSIC) on Saturday night at 4 p.m. in the R/A Facility.