Box Score

MARSHALL, Minn. -- The Southwest Minnesota State women's basketball team (5-6, 0-6 NSIC) rallied from a 17-point first half deficit to take a one-point lead in the fourth quarter, but the University of Sioux Falls (11-2, 4-2 NSIC) answered back and earned a 74-71 victory in NSIC play on Saturday afternoon at the R/A Facility.

The Mustangs shot 42 percent from the field (25-of-59) and 38 percent from the 3-point line (6-of-16)  to out-shoot the Cougars, who recorded 37 percent shooting from the field (29-of-78) and 24 percent from beyond the arc (6-of-25). 

Abuk Akoi scored a career-high 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for SMSU, while teammate Meleah Reinhart added a game-high 25 points and eight rebounds.

The Cougars were led in scoring by Kaely Hummel, who finished the night with 20.

The Mustangs trailed by so much as 17 points before gaining their first lead of the game with a one-point advantage with seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. 

USF jumped to an early 7-0 lead and used an 11-point scoring run to keep SMSU at bay heading into the half with a 43-29 lead.

Reinhart, who went 8-of-8 from the free-throw line on the night, knowed down two free throws with under a minute remaining in the third quarter to make a single-digit game. 

A layup from Jenna Borchers, who finished with seven points, drove to the basket for a layup to give the Mustangs their first lead at 63-62 with 4:42 left in the game. The Cougars quickly responded with a three-pointer from Mariah Szymanski, who ended with 15, to regain the lead for the Cougars. 

The Cougars then pulled away from the Mustangs to secure the 74-71 victory. 

Southwest Minnesota State returns to action on January 3-4, traveling to Wayne State and Augustana, before returning home to face Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota State on Jan. 10-11.