MARYVILLE, MO. – The Southwest Minnesota State women's basketball team opened its 2021-22 season overcoming a slow start to race past the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats, 64-48, on Friday evening at the Northwest Missouri State Classic. 
 
After trailing by 21 points after the first quarter, SMSU would outscore NWMSU 58-21 in the final three quarters en route to victory. The four-point fourth quarter by NWMSU is the lowest quarter total given up by SMSU since the switch from two halves to four quarters in the 2015-16 season.
 
SMSU shot 33 percent from the field (19 of 57), 43.8 percent from beyond the arc (7 of 16), and 95 percent from the free throw line (19 of 20) in SMSU's third consecutive season opening victory. They limited NWMSU to 12.2 from the field (5 of 41) and 13.3 percent from behind the arc (2 of 15) in the final three quarters.
 
Meleah Reinhart lead the team with 18 points, going a perfect 8 for 8 from the free-throw line, and recorded seven rebounds in the victory. Sadie Stelter stuffed the stat sheet, recording her first career double-double with 16 points and career-high 10 rebounds while adding a pair of steals and assists. Abuk Akoi anchored a defense that would give up 21 points in the final three quarters with three blocks while adding seven points and three rebounds. 
 
The Mustang offense got off to a slow start in the first quarter. SMSU made their only field goal at the 6:21 mark of the first quarter, shooting 1-20 (5%) overall. As SMSU struggled, NWMSU shot the lights out, connecting on nine of their first 12 shots (75%) and 4-4 from deep to jump to a 22-6 lead. They would close the quarter leading 27-6, outshooting SMSU 68.8% to 5%
 
SMSU caught fire in the second quarter, shooting 10 of 16 from the field and four of six from 3-point land. They outscored the Bearcats 26-9 and ended the half on a 17-3 run to go into the halftime break down 36-32. Stelter, Reinhart, Sam Wall, and Akoi would combine for 24 of the 26 points in the second quarter. SMSU outshot NWMSU 62.5 percent -16.7 percent while outrebounding NWMSU 11-5 and holding them to a 0 for 4 mark from three. 
 
The Mustang momentum continued into the third, as SMSU would score the first 10 points of the second half to take a 42-36 lead. After a 5-0 Bearcat run to cut the SMSU lead to 42-41, the Mustangs would outscore NWMSU 8-3 in the final four minutes of the quarter to hold a 50-44 advantage heading into the fourth quarter. 
 
Neither team would score until the 7:55 mark of the fourth quarter, when the Bearcats would sink a free throw to trim the Mustangs' lead to 50-45. SMSU would respond with an 8-0 run to march to a 58-45 lead at the final media break. Reinhart would add to the run out of the timeout, drilling a three to close the 12-0 run. The Bearcats would make their only field goal of the fourth quarter with 2:09 left in the game. 
 
Rebounding and free throws separated the two teams, as the Mustangs outrebounded the Bearcats 47-32 while shooting 19 of 20 from the free throw line compared to the nine of 12 shooting by NWMSU 
 
NWMSU was led in scoring by Molly Hartnett, who finished with 16 points. 
 
Southwest Minnesota State continues play in the classic on Saturday with a 5:30 p.m. tip-off versus Nebraska-Kearney.