MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State University women's basketball team improved to 7-0 with a 111-58 non-conference victory over Division III Bethany Lutheran College on Saturday inside the R/A Facility.
 
The 7-0 start is SMSU's first since the 2004-05 season and is one shy of the school mark of eight straight victories to begin a season set by the 1974-75 team.
 
SMSU shot a season-high 57 percent (43 of 75) from the field with 11 3-pointers in reaching 100-plus points for the second time this season.
 
SMSU had six players reach double figures in scoring with Peyton Blandin pouring in a team-high 17 points on 7 of 10 shooting with a pair of 3-pointers. Natalie Nielsen was a perfect 6 of 6 from the field in scoring a career-high 16 points, while Audrey Swanson also added 16 points while making 7 of 9 field goals. Natalie Maenke (11), Kennadi Buchholz (10) and Maddie Thorfinnson (10) also reached double figures in scoring. SMSU's leading scorer, Bri Stoltzman, did not play in the game due to an injury.
 
BLC (1-5) finished the game shooting 38 percent (25 of 66) with six 3-pointers in 18 attempts. The Vikings were led by Aubrea Kor's 11 points on 4 of 11 shooting.
 
SMSU held a 25-12 lead after the first quarter, but BLC would not go away and trailed 38-25 with 2:23 left in the first half. SMSU however used a big 8-2 run in the final 1:41 to build a 46-27 halftime advantage.
 
The Mustangs put the game away with a 12-5 run in the opening three minutes of the second half with Maenke and Thorfinnson each connecting on 3-pointers during the run.
 
SMSU, which is 1-0 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play, returns to league play on Friday, Dec. 6, hosting Minnesota Duluth with tip-off slated for 5:30 p.m.