ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs women's basketball team (9-9 overall, 6-8 NSIC) would get outscored 20-6 off turnovers, leading the St. Cloud State University Huskies (16-3, 14-2) to a 63-44 victory on Saturday afternoon in Halenbeck Hall.
The Mustangs would turn the ball over 17 times as opposed to 12 Huskie turnovers, and it would be SCSU that took full advantage of their extra opportunities. SCSU would also crash the glass, outrebounding SMSU 48-38, including 16 offensive boards.
SMSU would also be whistled for 26 fouls in the game, while SCSU would only be called for five. The Mustangs shot 66.7 percent (4 of 6) from the free throw line, while SCSU would shoot 69.2 percent (18 of 26).
The Mustangs shot 32.1 percent from the field (18-of-56) and 25 percent from the three-point line (4-of-16), while the Huskies shot 31.7 percent from the field (19-of-60) and 36.8 percent (7-of-19) from beyond the arc.
Sadie Stelter and
Meleah Reinhart would each score in double figures, with Stelter leading the team with 11 points and six rebounds, and Reinhart adding 10 points and six rebounds.
Abuk Akoi would finish with eight points, six rebounds, five blocks, and three steals, and
Hannah Parsley would lead the team with three assists while adding three rebounds and two points.
Erin Baxter would also contribute to the efforts on the glass, tying the team lead with six rebounds and adding five points.
SCSU was led by Nikki Kilboten, who would finish with a double-double, scoring a team-high 17 points and collecting 10 rebounds.
The Mustangs would come out firing in the opening minute, as Stelter opened the scoring with a layup before a Baxter three to give SMSU an early 5-0 lead. SCSU would answer with a 7-0 run, but
Jenna Borchers would end the run, hitting from deep to reclaim the lead at 8-7.
The teams would trade 4-0 runs to get SMSU to a 12-11 lead, but an 8-2 run from the Huskies to close out the quarter would vault them to a 19-14 lead into the second quarter.
Stelter would open the scoring in the second quarter on SMSU's first shot, and the game would go scoreless for nearly four minutes before a Parsley layup at the 5:35 mark to creep within one at 19-18.
The Huskies would score their first points of the quarter at the 4:45 mark, fueling a 10-1 run in the final minutes to take a 29-19 lead into the locker room.
The Huskies would open the third quarter by sandwiching an
Abuk Akoi layup with a pair of threes to lead 35-21 in the first 1:06 of action. SCSU would get their lead to 43-28, but Reinhart would score the next seven points to get them within eight at 43-35 with 2:44 to go in the quarter.
The Huskies would score the final four points of the third quarter, giving them a 47-35 lead into the fourth quarter.
SMSU would open the fourth quarter scoring six of the first nine points to narrow the SCSU lead to 50-41. The next five points would go in favor of the Huskies to build their lead right back up to 55-41.
Akoi would end the run with a jumper, but SCSU would make eight free throws to close out the game.
The Mustangs return home next weekend, hosting Minnesota State on Friday, Feb. 4 at 5:30 p.m. before welcoming Concordia-St. Paul for Tropical Night on Saturday, Feb. 5 at 3:30 p.m.
