MARSHALL, Minn. - For the first time since 2004 an SMSU women's basketball player scored 40 points in a game, as Bri Stoltzman poured in a career-high 41 points in an 82-72 victory over the Nothern State Wolves in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action on Friday night inside the R/A Facility.  

SMSU (15-2, 9-2 NSIC), finished the night shooting 30 of 59 (51 percent) from the field including 53 percent (9 of 17) from downtown.  

NSU, which drops to 10-7 on the year and 7-4 in conference play, closed the game shooting 35 percent (29 of 83) from the field including shooting 3 of 23 (13 percent) from beyond the arc.  

Bri Stoltzman led the SMSU offense with a career-high 41 points on 79 percent shooting from the field including 75 percent from three, seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Peyton Blandin finished the night with 15 points and three rebounds. Natalie Nielsen recorded 11 points and six rebounds while Audrey Swanson tallied a team-high 11 rebounds.    

The Mustangs opened the game with a 7-0 run until the Wolves started to get rhythm in offense to cut the deficit to 10 points with five minutes remaining in the first quarter. Both teams would battle back in forth for the remaining of the first quarter with the Mustangs maintaining a six-point lead going into the second quarter.  

The Mustangs would go on to hold the Wolves scoreless for the first 10 points of the second quarter. Both teams would trade off the next 16 points, but NSU would go into halftime with a 19-point deficit.  
The Wolves found some life after halftime and went on a 6-0 run to start the third quarter to cut into the Mustangs lead. SMSU would go on a 6-2 run to bring the lead back to 19 points. The Wolves would not give up as they went on a 6-0 run before the Mustangs would respond with a 6-0 run for themselves.  

SMSU would continue to hold its lead over NSU 65-51 going into the fourth quarter. SMSU used its strong offense to open the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run to extend its lead. 

The Wolves cut the deficit to single digits using a 12-0 run until a clutch 3-pointer by Natalie Nielsen and a pair of free throws by Stoltzman would put the game out of reach for the Wolves. 

The Mustangs are back in action tomorrow hosting UMary (9-6, 6-5 NSIC) with tip-off set for 5:30 p.m.