MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State women's basketball team (2-4, 0-1 NSIC) were defeated Sunday afternoon by the Northern State Wolves (3-3, 0-1 NSIC) in a non-conference matchup 81-79 in overtime.
 
This was the first time the Mustangs have gone to overtime since Jan. 20, 2023, against St. Cloud State.

Audrey Swanson led the way for the Mustangs with 23 points on 8/17 shooting while leading the team in rebounds with nine. This was Swanson's fourth game with 20 or more points. Nicole Maenke had her second straight 20-point game, adding 21 on 6/11 shooting, going 7/8 from the charity stripe, and leading the team with four assists. Brynn Busse had her first career game of double-digit points with 11 and was one of three players with two steals for the Mustangs.
 
As a team the Mustangs shot 45.6 percent (26-57) in the game, including 20 percent from beyond the arc. SMSU was outrebounded by Northern State 39-24, who were led by Taylor Tool with 24. The Wolves shot 50.9 percent as a team (29-57).
 
The Mustangs started the game hot, leading by 13 points less than eight minutes into the game. But the early SMSU lead was countered when the Wolves went on a 30-8 run that lasted through the first quarter and into the second quarter. After shooting 62 percent from the floor in the first quarter, the Mustangs shot 21 percent in the second quarter and were facing an 11-point deficit going into halftime, trailing 44-33.
 
In the second half SMSU shot 11/23 from the field while the Wolves shot 7/17. Nicole Maenke scored 16 of her 21 points in the second half, and Brynn Busse scored nine of her 11 points in the same time frame. Northern State had the final shot in the fourth quarter, but strong defense from the Mustangs forced a miss sending the game to overtime.
 
The Mustangs shot 3/7 while the Mustangs were 2/4 with both teams making pair of free throws and a three-pointer. On the last play of overtime down two, Audrey Swanson missed the final shot, ending the game in favor of Northern State 81-79.
 
SMSU is back in action on Thursday, Dec. 4, against Augustana in Sioux Falls, S.D., at 7:30 p.m. The Mustangs will return to the R/A Facility on Saturday, Dec. 6, against Wayne State at 4 p.m. Both games will be streaming live on the NSIC Network. Tickets and more information can be found at smsumustangs.com/sports/womens-basketball.