MARSHALL, Minn.- The Southwest Minnesota State women's basketball team (10-9 overall, 7-8 NSIC) would use a dominant second quarter while Abuk Akoi had a career day patrolling the paint to defeat Minnesota State (5-5, 11-5) 63-46 and avenge its loss in Mankato earlier in the season in a conference matchup inside the R/A Facility on Friday night. 
 
With MSU leading 18-15 after the opening frame, the Mustangs would bring toughness defensively, outscoring the Mavericks 17-1 in the second quarter while holding MSU to 0 of 22 shooting from the field and 0 of 6 from the three-point line. 
 
Akoi would shatter her own school record for blocks in a game, sending 11 shots away while completing a double-double with 10 rebounds, added a team-high three steals and three assists in 31 minutes of action. 
 
The Mustangs shot 39.1 percent from the field (18 of 46) and 37.9 percent (11 of 29) from behind the arc, while the Mavericks would be held to just 23.2 percent from the field (19 of 82) and 17.6 percent (3 of 17) from behind the arc.
 
Meleah Reinhart would lead the way offensively, leading the team with 22 points and a career-high 11 rebounds on her way to her first career double-double. Sadie Stelter would add to the offense with 17 points on just 6 of 10 shooting while adding eight rebounds. Sam Wall would also reach doube-figures, scoring 13 points on 4 of 10 shooting from deep. Jenna Borchers was the lead distributer for SMSU, handing out five assists while collecting six rebounds and five points. 
 
Reinhart would open the scoring, drilling a three in the first 15 seconds, but MSU would fire right back, scoring the next seven points in less than a minute to take a 7-3 lead at the 8:52 mark of the first quarter.
 
The Mavericks would grow their lead to 11-7, but an Erin Baxter triple would close the gap to one at 11-10 at the 4:30 mark. With 38 seconds to go and MSU leading 15-12, Wall would drill a three to tie the score, but the Mavericks would hit from deep just before the buzzer to take a 18-15 lead into the second quarter. 
 
SMSU would make four free throws in the first 3:20 of the second quarter to take a 19-18 lead, and Reinhart would make the first field goal of the quarter to grow their lead to three. 
 
Wall would drill a three, and Stelter would follow with a pair of her own to grow their lead to 30-18, and MSU would score their only point of the quarter at the free throw line to make it 30-18, and SMSU would close the scoring with a pair of Reinhart free throws to go into the locker room leading 32-19. 
 
The Mustangs would show no signs of slowing down to open the second half, as Reinhart and Stelter would each knock down a three and Borchers would make a pair of free throws to fuel an 8-2 run and grow the SMSU lead to 40-21 with 7:52 to go in the third quarter. 
 
Each team would make three field goals the rest of the quarter, with MSU outscoring SMSU 10-7 to go into the fourth quarter with the Mustangs leading 47-31. 
 
The Mustangs would again provide an early flurry, as a Wall three and Reinhart free throws would give them a 52-31 lead with just over nine minutes to go in the game. SMSU would see their lead balloon to 23 points after a Stelter jumper at the 6:29 mark, but the Mavericks would score 13 of the final 20 points to bring the game to its final score. 
 
SMSU is back in action Saturday, welcoming Concordia-St. Paul for Tropical Night. Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m.