MARSHALL, Minn.- For the first time in the 2021-22 season, the Southwest Minnesota State women's basketball team (3-1) were unable to overcome a first quarter deficit, losing 73-62 to Truman State at the R/A Facility to conclude the EverSpring Inn & Suites Classic. 
 
SMSU falls to 3-1 overall heading into conference play, as Truman State, ranked No. 23 in the preseason poll before falling out of the top 25 this week, move to 2-2 on the season.   
 
SMSU ended the night shooting 38.7 percent (24-of-62) with the Mustangs leading scorer, Meleah Reinhart putting up 16 points along with a team-high six rebounds. Freshman Hannah Parsley would score a career-high 10 points while adding five rebounds in the loss, with both slotting second on the team. Abuk Akoi would pick up both of SMSU's blocks on the night, while also leading the team with a pair of steals. 
 
Truman shot 43.5 percent (27-of-62) while outscoring the Mustangs in the paint 42-34. Ellie Weltha would lead the Bulldogs to victory, putting up a game-high 26 points and 14 rebounds. Maddie Re would tally 15 points and nine rebounds to finish right behind Weltha.  
 
The free throw line would separate the two teams, as Truman would outshoot SMSU 81.0 percent (17-of-21) to 61.5 percent (8-of-13).
 
The Bulldogs opened the game on a 16-4 run to take an early lead that they would hold the entire game. Weltha would score seven of the 16 points. SMSU would cut into the lead, trailing 18-10 before Truman would score the last three points of the quarter to lead 21-10. 
 
Truman would lead by as many as 19 mid-way through the second quarter before SMSU would begin to chip away. Erin Baxter would score a pair of layups to narrow the deficit to 15, and it eventually be cut to nine before Truman would knock down a pair of free throws with three seconds to go in the half to get their lead to 11 into the halftime break. 
 
Truman would control the start of the third quarter, growing their lead to 15 points and floating around that total for four minutes before the Mustangs would again mount a comeback. SMSU would mount a 12-2 run, including five baskets from five different players to cut the Truman lead to 48-43. The Bulldogs would respond, scoring seven straight points to end the quarter to go into the fourth quarter with a 55-43 lead. 
 
Four straight Truman free throws to open the fourth would grow their lead to 16, and although SMSU would keep scoring, Truman would find an answer to lead by double digits the rest of the way. 
 
The Mustangs open their conference slate on the road, travelling to Sioux Falls, S.D. to face the Cougars on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.