BISMARCK, N.D. – The Southwest Minnesota State women's basketball team opened 2023 with an 89-74 road loss to the University of Mary on Friday night at the McDowell Activity Center.
 
UMary, now 7-5 on the season and 6-3 in NSIC play, shot season bests from the field (30 of 51, 58.8 percent), beyond the arc (6 of 11, 54.5 percent), and the free throw line (23 0f 24, 95.8 percent), while the Mustangs, 9-5 overall and 6-3 NSIC, shot 42.2 percent (27 of 64) from the field, 47.1 percent (8 of 17) from downtown, and 85.7 percent (12 of 14) from the free throw line. 
 
The Marauders outrebounded SMSU 36-23, including 29-14 on the defensive glass to limit second opportunities in their wire-to-wire win. 
 
Bri Stoltzman scored a career-best 24 points on 9 of 16 shooting to lead all scorers. Peyton Blandin added 12 points on 5 of 7 shooting and team-high five rebounds, Sam Wall scored nine points with a team-best four assists, and Jenna Borchers was one of three players to score six points, adding a team-high three steals. 
 
The Marauders dominated the early stages of the game, leading by as many as 12 at 17-5 and 30-18, ultimately leading 30-20 at the end of the first quarter. 
 
A pair of Stoltzman free throws to end the quarter rejuvenated the Mustangs, leading an 11-3 run to bring the Mustangs within four at 33-29 with 7:38 left in the first half. 
 
UMary answered back, going on a 9-2 run to grow its lead back to double digits at 42-31 with 3:12 left, but the Mustangs closed the half with a 7-2 run in the final 1:30 to cut their deficit to 44-38 at the break. 
 
SMSU battled throughout the third quarter, getting within three points twice in the first two minutes, but a 5-0 UMary run grew its lead to eight points at 53-45. 
 
A 4-0 Mustang run brought the game within four, but a 6-0 counter from the Marauders put them up double digits at 59-49 with 1:48 left in the third. 
 
The teams split the next eight points, but a layup with nine seconds left gave UMary a 65-53 lead after three quarters. 
 
Every chance the Mustangs would have to put together a comeback in the fourth, the Marauders countered, as they outscored the Mustangs 24-21 in the final frame to take the home victory. 
 
The Mustangs head north for a Saturday afternoon game against Minot State at 3:30 p.m., to conclude their weekend.