MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State women's basketball team (4-4, 2-1 NSIC) defeated the Wayne State Wildcats (6-3, 1-2 NSIC) Saturday evening 84-58.
Kylan Gerads scored 20 points for the Mustangs with five made three-pointers, a season high, adding six rebounds.
Nicole Maenke was second with 14 points and six assists.
Audrey Swanson led the team in assists with seven, adding 13 points and six rebounds.
Maddie Thorfinnson scored her season-high in points with nine with three made three-pointers.
As a team the Mustangs shot 50 percent from the field (30-60), 42 percent from beyond the arc (14-33) and 77 percent from free throws (10-13). The Mustangs outrebounded the Wildcats 40-25, and scoring 10 more points off turnovers. The Wildcats, led by Meg Rietz and Rachel Dahlen with 14 points, shot 44 percent from the field (24-55) and 31 percent on three-point shots (4-13).
The Mustangs started the game where they left off on Thursday, shooting 5-10 on three pointers in the opening 10 minutes. Gerads and Swanson combined for 15 of the Mustangs opening 23 points, leading 23-15 at the quarter break.
Natalie Nielsen led the Mustangs in the second quarter, scoring all seven of her points in the period. Gerads had four points, and the only three pointer made by either team in the second quarter, leading SMSU to a 39-25 advantage at the half.
In an explosive third quarter, in which both teams scored 24, Wayne State shot 11-14 from the field, while the Mustangs shot 8-13, including 5-8 from behind the three-point line. Thorfinnson and Gerads each hit two three-point shots, keeping the Mustangs lead at 16 going into the final period.
The Mustangs kicked the door open in the final quarter, outscoring the Wildcats 21-9. SMSU again shot 8-13 from the field, holding Wayne State to shooting 3-11 from the field and 0-2 on three-pointers, leading to a Mustang 84-58 win.
The Mustangs are on the road next weekend, facing Concordia-St. Paul on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m., then traveling east facing Winona State on Dec. 14, at 4 p.m. More information can be found at smsumustangs.com/sports/womens-basketball.
