MANKATO, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State women's basketball team fell to the Minnesota State Mavericks 78-50 on Saturday evening inside the Taylor Center. 
 
The Mavericks move to 5-4 overall and 2-1 in NSIC play, while SMSU drops to 2-6 overall and 1-2 in the NSIC. 
 
SMSU closed the night shooting 34.4 percent (22 of 64) from the field, 4.5 percent (1 of 22) from three, and 71.4 percent (5 of 7) from the free throw line, while the Mavericks finished shooting 40 percent (26-65) from the field, 13.3 percent (2 of 15) from three, and 82.8 percent (24 of 29) from the free throw line. 
 
The Mustangs turned the ball over 30 times while forcing MSU into 19 turnovers of their own. The Mavericks turned that into a 47-9 advantage in points off turnovers, while owning the fast break to the tune of a 22-5 advantage. 
 
Madison Gehloff scored a team-high 14 points on 5 of 11 shooting, adding a steal, six rebounds, and three assists. Hannah Parsley scored 11 points on 5 of 8 shooting, pulling down nine rebounds and dishing two assists, and Bri Stoltzman added seven points, and a team-high in rebounds, assists, and steals with 10-4-4, respectively.
 
A fast-paced first quarter saw nine SMSU turnovers, allowing MSU to lead for the entire quarter, swarming around defensively and making life difficult for the Mustangs. MSU went on a 17-0 run to begin the game before a Sam Wall layup gave the Mustangs their first points of the game with six minutes remaining in the quarter. SMSU would close the quarter shooting 50 percent (8 of 16), depleting the Maverick advantage to 29-17.
 
The teams cooled off in the second quarter, with the teams splitting 14 points in the first four minutes, bringing the score to 32-25 in favor of the Mavericks. 
 
MSU went on to grow its lead to 14 at 41-27 into the second quarter media timeout, but back-to-back Mustang free buckets in just over a minute of action cut the SMSU deficit to 41-31 with 2:13 remaining in the half. 
 
The Mavericks went on a 6-0 run in the final minutes to bring the game to a 47-31 score at half, in favor of MSU. 

The Mustangs opened the second half with an 8-4 run to move the score to 51-39 with 6:52 remaining in the quarter. MSU took advantage of SMSU turnovers and fouls to bring the score back to 57-44 entering the final quarter of play.

MSU wasted little time offensively to open the final frame, outscoring SMSU 11-4 early, including a pair of threes to jump out to a 72-48 with 5:42 left in the fourth quarter. 
 
The Mustangs final field goal of the game came from Brynn Busse to move the score to 72-50, before MSU held SMSU scoreless for the final five minutes of the game.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Mustangs return home to the R/A Facility next weekend squaring-off with Concordia-St. Paul (6-1, 2-0 NSIC) on Saturday, Dec 8, at 7:30 p.m.

SMSU welcomes Minnesota Duluth (5-1, 2-0 NSIC) the next day, with tip-off scheduled for 5:30 p.m.