SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Bri Stoltzman poured in a game-high 19 points on 8 of 12 shooting, while teammate Audrey Swanson scored 17 points with 11 rebounds and five assists to pace Southwest Minnesota State to a 77-57 victory over Augustana University in NSIC women's college basketball on Thursday night inside the Elmen Center.
 
SMSU, which never trailed in the game, improves to 10-2 overall, 4-2 NSIC, in winning its second straight game. It's the programs first 10-2 start since the 1995-96 squad opened the season 11-2.
 
Peyton Blandin drilled four 3-pointers to finish with 16 points for the Mustangs, while Natalie Nielsen chipped in with 10 points, eight rebounds and four steals.
 
SMSU finished the night shooting 48 percent (30 of 63) from the field, while making 11 of 27 from 3-point range. The Mustangs held a 40-24 rebound advantage in defeating the Vikings for the third straight time and sixth time in the last eight meetings.
 
AU dropped to 1-10 overall, 0-6 NSIC. The Vikings were led by Olivia Hayenga's 18 points and seven rebounds.
 
SMSU built a 12-4 advantage in the opening three and a half minutes behind a pair of 3-pointers from Blandin. SMSU would go on to shot 62 percent in the opening 10 minutes, including closing on a 9-2 run, to build a 23-13 lead after one quarter.
 
SMSU held a 26-15 lead early in the second quarter before putting together a 13-0 run over a four and a half minute stretch to extend the margin to 39-15 with 3:55 left in the half. The Mustangs made 6 of 9 shots during the run and limited the Vikings to 0 for 6 shooting.
 
Following an 8-0 run by AU, SMSU would use a pair of field goals by Stoltzman in the final two minutes of the half to build a 44-28 halftime lead.
 
SMSU shot 59 percent in the first 20 minutes with six 3-pointers.
 
SMSU would score the first seven points of the second half to build its largest lead at 51-28 following a 3-pointer by Maenke at the 7:23 mark. AU would not go away and used a 9-0 run to cut the deficit to 51-37, but 3-pointers by Maenke and Blandin in the final two minutes pushed the SMSU lead to 57-41 after three quarters.
 
AU would score a field goal to open the fourth quarter to pull within 57-43, but a pair of Stoltzman field goals sandwiched around a Swanson basket, extended the lead to 63-43 with 7:15 remaining and SMSU never looked back.
 
Maenke closed the game with three 3-pointers to finish with nine points, while Kenzie Jones connected on a pair of 3-pointers to add six points.
 
SMSU continues action on Saturday hosting the University of Sioux Falls inside the R/A Facility with tip-off slated for 2 p.m.