BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State University women's basketball team got a crucial 78-65 win over the Bemidji State University Beavers on Saturday afternoon in NSIC women's college basketball inside the BSU Gymnasium.

SMSU moves to 16-10 overall and is now in a three-way tie for fourth place in the NSIC at 14-6. BSU drops to 6-18 overall and 3-17 in the NSIC.

Bri Stoltzman led SMSU with 20 points on 7 of 8 shooting, including 3 of 3 from deep while pulling down eight rebounds, dishing three assists and snatching four steals. Madison Gehloff followed with 14 points, eighth rebounds, three assists, and four steals. Peyton Blandin notched 11 points with three rebounds, while Sam Wall and Hannah Parsley chipped in 10 points apiece.

SMSU closed the game shooting 47 percent (28 of 60) from the field including 41 percent from 3-point land. 

Bemidji State shot 44 percent (24 of 54) from the field, including 8 of 18 from deep. The Beavers were led by Alyssa Hill with 13 points, three rebounds, and a steal.

The Mustangs controlled the first half of the first quarter, with Sam Wall starting the scoring with a 3-pointer. Parsley and Gehloff chipped in points on the run, assisting SMSU in making six of its first seven field goals. Following the media timeout, the Beavers held SMSU to 1 of 5 shooting in for the next four and a half minutes in closing the quarter on an 8-2 run.

SMSU once again took control in the next ten minutes but for the whole quarter this time. The Mustangs utilized six different scorers in outscoring the Beavers 22-7. Bri Stoltzman led the charge, scoring all eight of her points at the time in the second quarter. SMSU pushed the lead to 38-20 at the half.

The defense was limited in the third quarter with the teams combining for 55 points. The Beavers' Amme Sheforgen got the scoring started in the second half with a quick left-handed layup. The Mustangs responded with a 9-3 run backed by scores from Stoltman and Elizabeth Wagner. Peyton Blandin would give SMSU a 63-35 advantage after knocking down back-to-back 3-pointers with 2:08 remaining in the quarter. Similarly to quarter one, BSU closed the period on a 10-5 run to settle the score at 68-45 going into the final 10 minutes.

The Beavers began an offensive onslaught for the first six minutes of the final quarter of play, using a 16-3 run to bring the score within 10 points at 71-61 with four minutes remaining. Maddie Thorfinnson stopped the bleeding with a 3-pointer which sparked a 7-2 for SMSU to close the game.

UP NEXT

SMSU returns to the R/A Facility next weekend for its final two regular-season games against Minot State and MSU Moorhead.