Box Score

MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State women's basketball team fell 76-74 to Wayne State as WSC pulled ahead with 33 seconds to go on Saturday night in the R/A Facility.

SMSU (6-7, 3-5 NSIC) shot 42 percent from the field, 41 percent from the three-point line, and 82 percent from the line while WSC (9-5, 4-4 NSIC) shot 44 percent from the field, 36 percent from the three-point line, and 82 percent from the line.

SMSU had five players in double-digits as Abuk Akoi scored a career-high 17 points, Sadie Stelter added 17, Caleigh Rodning added 13, Erin Baxter pitched in 11, and 10 from Meleah Reinhart. Rodning led the team in rebounds and assists with five each.

SMSU started the game scoring the first basket of the game, but would trail the remainder of the first period. The Wildcats led until Akoi tied the game at 21-21 with 8:08 to go in the second quarter. WSC and SMSU then went basket-for-basket until the Mustangs gained a five-point lead at 37-32. Wildcats pulled away with a 10-point run to lead 42-39 at end the first half.

Reinhart opened the second half with a 3-pointer to tie the game back up at 42-42. WSC went to gain the largest lead of the half at 60-55 with 3:02 to go in the third quarter. Akoi then scored the next four points to make it a one-point game with two free throws and a basket. SMSU trailed by one in the final seconds before WSC's Halley Busse scored as the clock wound down to head into the final quarter up 64-61.

SMSU opened the fourth quarter with a jumper from Akoi and a 3-pointer from Stelter to gain a 66-64 lead for the Mustangs, which would be the last lead of the game for SMSU. SMSU attempted to keep the game within one point several times before going down 74-71 with 2:50 to go in the game. Stelter then tied the game at 74-74 with a 3-pointer with 1:44 remaining.

WSC secured the victory with 33.8 to go in the game as Maggie Lowe went to the paint for a jumper to earn the victory.

WSC was led in scoring by Erin Norling with 18 points, followed by 17 from Halley Busse.