MARSHALL, Minn. –The Southwest Minnesota State women's basketball team used 22 points from Sam Wall and a double-double from Bri Stoltzman to power past the Upper Iowa Peacocks 63-55 on Friday night inside the R/A Facility.
 
It was Wall's third 20-point game of her career, all coming this season. She shot 8 of 12 from the field, including 4 of 6 from deep. Stoltzman finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds, also leading the team with two blocks. It was Stoltzman's fourth double-double of her career, with each coming this season as well.
 
With the win, the Mustangs, now 15-9 overall and 12-7 in the NSIC this season, clinched the third seed in the NSIC South. Upper Iowa, 9-15 overall and 5-14 NSIC, hold a game lead on both Sioux Falls and Winona State for the sixth and final tournament spot in the South.
 
SMSU closed the night shooting 43.4 percent (23 of 53) from the field, 28 percent (7 of 25) from three, and 10 of 15 from the free throw line. UIU finished shooting 34.5 percent (20 of 58) from the field, 28.6 percent (4 of 14) from three, and 11 of 16 from the free throw line.
 
The Mustangs outrebounded the Peacocks 40-31. Although turning the ball over 17 times compared to the 12 of UIU, SMSU held a 15-9 advantage in points off turnovers.
 
Jenna Borchers also reached double figures for SMSU, scoring 10 points while adding three rebounds and three assists. Madison Gehloff scored seven points while grabbing five rebounds, and Peyton Blandin scored six points and grabbed seven rebounds in her first career start.
 
Wall found the bottom of the net early and often, scoring eight of the first 10 points for the Mustangs, who opened the game on runs of 10-0 and 19-2, taking the 17-point lead with 3:12 to go in the first quarter.
 
The Peacocks charged back, scoring the final nine points of the quarter to trail 19-11 into the second quarter.
 
Each team went on to score eight of the first 16 points in the second quarter before a Wall three-pointer with 4:26 remaining in the first half put SMSU up 30-19.
 
After a UIU free throw, Wall struck again, hitting another three to increase the lead to 33-20 with 2:17 remaining before halftime.
 
UIU scored four of the final six points, bringing UIU within 11 at 35-24 at the half.
 
SMSU shot a scorching 15 of 28 from the field in the first half while holding UIU to 9 of 32. Wall led all scorers with 16 first-half points.
 
The Peacocks clawed back, scoring six of the first seven points to open the second half, cutting the Mustangs lead to 36-30 with 7:45 remaining in the third quarter.
 
Wall ended the run with a layup, leading SMSU on a 7-0 run to grow its lead back to double digits at 43-30 with 5:52 left in the quarter.
 
After each team scored a two-pointer, they would each be held without a point for nearly three minutes before a UIU three-pointer with 2:10 to play made the score 45-35 in favor of the Mustangs.
 
In the final 2 minutes, the Peacocks scored four of seven points, cutting SMSU's lead to single digits at 48-39 into the fourth quarter.
 
After a Borchers layup with 5:14 remaining put the Mustangs in front 55-44, The Peacocks held the Mustangs in check, getting within five points at 55-50.
 
After nearly 3:45 of scoreless play from SMSU, Stoltzman sent in the dagger, collecting an offensive rebound before finishing strong on an and-1 to take a 58-53 lead with 1:37 left in the game.
 
Including the three-point play, The Mustangs ended the game on an 8-2 run, closing out the victory.
 
The Mustangs close the weekend Saturday night, hosting Winona State for Tropical Night, with tip-off scheduled for 5:30 p.m.