SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Southwest Minnesota State women's basketball team used a dominant second quarter to defeat Sioux Falls 70-44 on Saturday afternoon inside the Stewart Center.
 
The Mustangs outscored USF 30-7 in the final 15 minutes of the first half, including a 9-0 run to begin the stretch and 16-0 run to close the half, and outscored the Cougars 19-4 in the second quarter to cruise to victory.
 
SMSU, now 9-4 on the season and 6-2 in the NSIC, shot 46.4 percent (26 of 56) from the field and 35.7 percent (10 of 28) from behind the arc, while USF, 4-9 overall and 1-7 NSIC, shot 34 percent (17 of 50) from the field and 27.8 percent (5 of 18) from downtown. 

It was the first time in school history that the Mustangs swept the season series against the Cougars.

SMSU outscored USF 13-2 on the fast break, 32-24 in the paint, 22-15 off the bench, and 17-11 off turnovers in the win.
 
Sam Wall and Peyton Blandin each scored 13 points to lead the Mustangs in scoring, as Wall shot 5 of 11 from the field and 3 of 6 from three-point range, while Blandin shot 5 of 7 from the field and 2 of 4 from three while grabbing five rebounds. 
 
Hannah Parsley added 12 points, three rebounds, and four steals, and Jenna Borchers scored nine points and tallied a pair of rebounds and assists. Madison Gehloff scored eight points and grabbed three rebounds, and Bri Stoltzman scored six points while grabbing a game-high eight rebounds. 
 
USF opened the scoring with a two-pointer on its first possession before three-pointers from Wall and Gehloff put the Mustangs ahead 6-2 at the 8:33 mark of the first quarter. 
 
A 7-0 Cougar run gave them a 9-6 lead with five minutes to go in the first quarter, but a 9-0 Mustang run countered, growing to an 11-3 run before the end of the quarter to give SMSU a 17-12 lead into the second quarter. 
 
Each team made a three-pointer to open the second quarter, and a USF free throw with 6:27 left in the half narrowed the Mustang lead to four at 20-16. 
 
A Mustang ambushed then ensued, as SMSU scored the final 16 points of the half, shooting 6 of 11 from the field and holding USF to 0 of 4 shooting and forcing four turnovers to take a 36-16 lead into the locker room. 
 
The Mustangs continued their run to open the second half, scoring 12 of the first 16 points, led by seven from Parsley, to lead 48-20.
 
After a 5-0 USF run, SMSU scored eight of the final 10 points to take a 56-27 lead into the fourth quarter. 
 
The Cougars went on to outscore the Mustangs 17-14 in the fourth quarter, but it wouldn't be enough to come back.
 
SMSU is back on the road next weekend, taking on UMary at 5:30 p.m., on Friday, before a 3:30 p.m., battle with Minot State on Saturday.