MARSHALL, Minn. - The No. 22/25 Southwest Minnesota State University women's basketball team runs its win streak to 11 games with an 88-65 over the Augustana University Vikings in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action on Thursday night inside the R/A Facility.
SMSU (19-2, 13-2 NSIC) finished the day shooting 33 of 67 (49 percent) from the field including 30 percent (8 of 27) from downtown.
Augustana, which drops to 4-17 on the year and 2-13 in conference play, closed the game shooting 41 percent (24 of 59) from the field including shooting 7 of 19 (37 percent) from beyond the arc.
Bri Stoltzman led the SMSU offense with 21 points on 64 percent (7 of 11) shooting with two rebounds, four assists, and team-high four steals.
Audrey Swanson recorded her ninth double-double of the season with 20 points on 72 percent (10 of 14) shooting and 11 rebounds.
Natalie Nielsen finished the night with 18 points and eight rebounds.
The Mustangs opened the scoring quickly sinking a 3-pointer and a layup to jump out to an early lead over the Vikings. The next 12 points were traded off evenly between the teams to bring the score to 11-6 with SMSU maintaining its lead with 6:06 left in the first quarter. The Vikings would cut the deficit to just one point before SMSU would use an 11-0 run leaving Augustana scoreless for nearly two minutes to end the first quarter.
The first five minutes of the second quarter were quiet, as both teams only made three shots heading into the first media timeout. SMSU would use a pair of 7-0 runs to extend its lead to 16 points going into halftime.
The Mustangs came out firing in the second half piling in 15 points in the first four minutes while holding the Vikings scoreless to jump out to a 56-25 lead. The Vikings attempted to cut into the deficit, but SMSU would power through leading 66-36 to end the third quarter.
The Vikings would bring the lead down to 25 points in the fourth quarter, but the Mustangs would hold on to win 88-65.
SMSU will be back in action on the road versus Sioux Falls on Saturday, Feb. 1, with tip-off set for 5:30 p.m.
