ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State closed the game on a 12-3 run in the final two minutes and 14 second to earn a 74-66 victory over Southwest Minnesota State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference women's basketball on Saturday night at Wachs Arena.
 
SMSU's Audrey Swanson hit a jumper to give the Mustangs a 63-62 advantage with 2:34 left in the game but NSU answered with eight straight points to regain the lead and rally for the victory.
 
NSU, which defeated SMSU in overtime during non-conference play earlier this season in Marshall, improves to 12-10 overall, 7-9 NSIC.
 
SMSU, which had its five-game winning streak snapped, drops to 13-8 overall, 11-5 NSIC. Swanson led the Mustangs with 19 points and seven rebounds. Kylan Gerads and Natalie Nielsen each pulled down eight rebounds for the Mustangs with Nielsen scoring 15 points while Gerads chipped in with 11 points. Nicole Maenke also reached double figures in scoring for SMSU with 10 points.
 
SMSU made just 5 of 21 from 3-point range and finished the night shooting 41 percent (24 of 59) from the field.
 
Izzy Moore led the Wolves with 26 points on seven field goals while making 11 of 13 from the free throw line. The Wolves shot 43 percent (25 of 58) from the field and made six 3-pointers.
 
NSU had a strong start using a 14-3 run during the first quarter to build a 20-8 lead before taking a 21-10 advantage into the second quarter. SMSU was limited to 29 percent shooting in the first 10 minutes.
 
The Wolves would later hold a 33-19 advantage midway through the second quarter before Swanson started a 12-0 Mustangs run with back-to-back field goals to pull SMSU to within 33-31 with 1:11 remaining after a field goal by Gerads. Following a NSU field goal, Swanson closed the half with a free throw to cut the deficit to 35-32 at halftime.
 
NSU maintained the lead through the third quarter in building a 54-48 advantage after three quarters.
 
Maenke and Gerads hit back-to-back field goals to give SMSU the lead at 59-58 with 5:42 left in the game. It was SMSU's first lead since 2-0. NSU rallied and took a 62-59 lead before Nielsen hit two free throws and Swanson's field goal put SMSU back in front at 63-62.
 
SMSU will now return to action versus NSIC South Division teams for its final six games of the regular season. The Mustangs will play at St. Cloud State on Thursday, Feb. 5, with game time slated for 5:30 p.m.