MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State women's basketball team fell 82-62 at the hands of the Northern State Wolves on Saturday afternoon inside the R/A Facility
The Mustangs, 11-6 overall and 8-4 in NSIC play, shot season lows from the field (18 of 59, 30.5 percent), and behind the arc (6 of 28, 21.4 percent), but shot a season-best 90.9 percent (20-22) from the free throw line.
Northern State shot 51.6 percent (32 of 62) from the field, 33.3 percent (2 of 6) from three, and 76.2 percent (16 of 21) from the free throw line while scoring a season-best 82 points.
Hannah Parsley was one of three in double figures for the Mustangs, leading the team with 16 points and four rebounds.
Sam Wall added 15 points and four rebounds, and
Bri Stoltzman added 13 points and four rebounds.
The Wolves came out of the gates with a 10-4 advantage through four minutes. Following an and-one from Stoltzman, NSU went on a 7-0 run for a 17-7 lead with 3:09 left in the first quarter.
The Mustangs responded, scoring six straight points to cut the deficit to four at 17-`3, but four straight from the Wolves gave them a 21-13 lead into the second quarter.
Neither team could get much going offensively in the second quarter, but the Mustangs would end the half on a high note, scoring the final four points to trail 29-24 into the locker room.
The Mustangs shot just 1 of 12 from behind the arc in the first half but outscored the Wolves 7-0 on the fast break to stay in the game.
SMSU tried to claw through the third quarter, scoring first to go down 29-26 and getting within one on a
Madison Gehloff three-pointer with 8:03 left at 33-32.
NSU immediately answered the call, scoring the next 11 points to lead 44-32 with 5:29 left in the third quarter.
The team see-sawed through the rest of the quarter, with the Wolves leading 55-45 into the fourth before outscoring the Mustangs 27-17 in the fourth to blow the game open.
The Mustangs continue their homestand on Friday, hosting St. Cloud State at 7:30 p.m., inside the R/A Facility.
