MARSHALL, Minn. - The Southwest Minnesota State University women's basketball team cruised to an 84-57 victory over the Minot State Beavers in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action on Saturday afternoon inside the R/A Facility.  

SMSU, off to a program-best start of 14-2 overall (8-2 NSIC), finished the game shooting 27 of 64 (42 percent) from the field including 31 percent (9 of 29) from downtown.  

MSU, which drops to 4-13 on the year and 3-7 in conference play, closed the game shooting 35 percent (23 of 66) from the field including shooting 5 of 28 (18 percent) from beyond the arc.  

Natalie Nielsen led the SMSU offense with a game-high 18 points on 100 percent shooting from the field, 10 rebounds, en route to recording her second double-double of her career. Bri Stoltzman finished the night with 13 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. Peyton Blandin and Audrey Swanson both recorded 12 points apiece.    

The Mustangs opened the game with a 7-0 run until the Beavers battled back to cut the deficit to five points with 4:42 to play in the first quarter. The Mustangs would hold MSU scoreless for the next seven points to build to a 20-8 lead. 

SMSU would sink a pair of 3-pointers and a pair of layups to open the second quarter with a 10-2 run. Both teams would trade off the next 14 points to end the second quarter, but the Beavers would go into halftime with a 15-point deficit.  

The Mustangs would begin the second half right where they left off by going on a 9-0 run, which held MSU scoreless for nearly two minutes. The Dragons would then use a 5-0 run in attempt to cut into the Mustangs lead. SMSU would close out the third quarter with a 12-0 run to build its lead to 70-36 going into the fourth quarter.  

The Beavers would open the fourth quarter with a pair of jumpers, a pair of layups, and held the Mustangs scoreless for three minutes.  

Minot State would go on a 13-10 run with no success and would fall to the Mustangs 84-57.  

SMSU continues its homestand next week hosting Northern State on Friday, Jan. 17 with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m.