Box Score

MARSHALL, Minn. – Minot State made 9 of 10 free throws in overtime and held Southwest Minnesota State to just one field goal in the extra frame to earn a 72-66 victory in NSIC women's basketball at the R/A Facility on Friday night.
 
Madison Wald led the Beavers (6-11, 2-9 NSIC) with 20 points, six rebounds, four steals and three assists.
 
SMSU (7-9, 4-7 NSIC) was paced by Meleah Reinhart's team-high 17 points on 6 of 13 shooting. Caleigh Rodning added 11 points and a team-high six rebounds.
 
Both teams struggled shooting to open the game as the game was tied at 7-7 midway through the first quarter. SMSU made just 3 of 11 field goals in the opening 10 minutes as MSU held a 12-10 advantage through one quarter.
 
SMSU turned it on early in the second fame scoring the first 11 points behind 3-pointers from Sarah Buysse and Sadie Stelter, a layup from Meleah Reinhart and 3-pointer from Jenna Borchers to push the Mustang lead to 21-12 with 8:22 left in the half.
 
SMSU would maintain a 23-14 lead, but MSU rallied with 12-2 run to regain the advantage at 26-25 at the 4:22 mark. Emily Buysse would connect on a 3-pointer to give SMSU the lead back at 28-26, but SMSU was held scoreless the remainder of the half as MSU rallied to build a 31-28 halftime lead.
 
The Mustangs shot 39 percent with five 3-pointers in the opening half, while MSU connected on six 3-pointers and shot 44 percent.
 
The teams played the second quarter until 6:16 when the Dragons advanced the lead to 34-28. The Mustangs responded to score two back-to-back baskets, a layup from Rodning and a 3-pointer from Reinhart to cut deficit to one-point at 34-33.
 
SMSU would momentarily take the lead with three minutes remaining with a layup from Reinhart before closing out the period down by one, 41-40.
 
The Mustangs earned a seven-point lead at 52-45 with 4:59 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Dragons were able to tie the game back at the end of regulation at 61-61 to send the game into overtime.
 
SMSU had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation but Reinhart's layup attempt missed with three seconds remaining.
 
Overtime went scoreless nearly the first two minutes before Wald went for a layup in the paint to go up 63-61. The Mustangs game within one point at 64-63 with 1:10 remaining before the Dragons went to the line to record 9 of 10 at the free-throw line in overtime to secure the victory.
 
Southwest Minnesota State finishes the weekend homestand tomorrow taking on UMary starting at 4 p.m.