DENTON, Texas – The No. 18 ranked Southwest Minnesota State women's basketball team opened the season Friday afternoon against Alabama-Huntsville. In a game that came down to the final possession, the Mustangs couldn't get a shot off and were defeated 70-65.
SMSU shot 39 percent (23-59) from the field on the game and 4-21 on 3-pointers.
Alabama-Huntsville, who made the NCAA Tournament last season, shot 38.5 percent (25-65) and 20.8 from beyond the arc (5-24). The Chargers were led in points by Lili Wilken, the reigning Gulf South Conference Player of the Year, scoring 28 points and adding 11 rebounds.
Audrey Swanson led the Mustangs with 20 points, while shooting 7-15 from the field and 2-5 on 3-pointers, with six rebounds. Swanson was one of four Mustangs with double-digit points. Sophomore
Nicole Maenke in her first start had 16 points with two rebounds and two assists.
Natalie Nielsen had her third career double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds, shooting 7-10 from the free throw line.
Kylan Gerads added 10 points and six rebounds in her Mustangs debut.
The Mustangs started slow, shooting 2-12 from the field, and scoring seven points in the opening period. UAH opened the game shooting 57.1 percent (8-14) and led 18-7 at the end of the first quarter.
Nicole Maenke led the charge in the second quarter for the Mustangs, shooting 4-6 from the field and scoring 10 points, cutting the Mustang deficit to five points, with UAH leading 34-29.
The Mustangs continued to chip away at the UAH lead in the third quarter, shooting 9-16 in the quarter, and ending on a 6-0 run in the final two minutes. Maenke and Swanson led the team with six points in the quarter, and cut the UAH lead to three points, with the Chargers leading 53-50.
With six minutes left in the game,
Kylan Gerads made a basket to tie the game at 58, before UAH responded with a 7-1 run of their own, with a 3-pointer by Millie Brown. The Mustangs kept themselves in the game when
Maddie Thorfinnson hit a clutch 3-pointer, bringing SMSU to within one point. The Chargers brought the lead back to three points with just over one minute to play. The Mustangs had one final possession to bring the game level, but could not find an open look, and UAH defeated the Mustangs 70-65.
The Mustangs are back in action Saturday at 1 p.m. against the No. 23 ranked Tampa Spartans. The game is available to watch on FLO Sports. More information can be found at smsumustangs.com/sports/womens-basketball.
