MARSHALL, Minn. – A 27-point fourth quarter helped the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs women's basketball team (17-11) to defeat the Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles (8-21) 77-65. The Mustangs with the win will now advance to the NSIC quarterfinals inside the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Audrey Swanson led the way for SMSU with 17 points on 7 of 18 shooting and 14 rebounds for her eighth double double of her campaign.
Nicole Maenke also scored 17 points shooting 4 of 8 from 3-point range.
Kylan Gerads put up 16 points on 7 of 14 shooting, and
Elizabeth Wagner scored a season-high 10 points on a perfect 4 of 4 from the field. Freshman
Allie Haabala dished out six assists in the game, a career high.
As a team SMSU shot 48 percent in the game (29 of 60) and 32 percent from downtown (8 of 25). The Mustangs outrebounded the Golden Eagles 41-31, however, UMC won the turnover battle 13-12. The Golden Eagles, led by senior Emma Miller with 25 points, shot 41 percent from the field and 29 percent from deep.
Both teams had an even start to the contest, with the Mustangs shooting 43 percent from the floor, contrary to the Golden Eagles' 41 percent.
Nicole Maenke and
Brynn Busse led an even attack for the Mustangs with three points each, but trailed UMC at the end of the period 17-16.
The biggest shooting disparity occurred in the second quarter, as SMSU shot 54 percent from the field, as compared to UMC's 33 percent and 0 of 7 from downtown. Maenke ended the first half with 11 points for the Mustangs, shooting 2 of 4 from 3-point range. Despite a 10-0 run to start the quarter, SMSU battled back late and took a 32-29 lead into halftime.
Minnesota Crookston began the second half with a similar run as the second quarter, and outshot SMSU percentage wise 44 to 39.
Kylan Gerads' eight points in the period empowered the Mustangs to extend their lead in the game, 50-46 heading into the final 10 minutes.
The Mustangs saved their best for last in the fourth quarter, shooting 61 percent from the floor (11 of 18) and 43 percent from deep (3 of 7).
Audrey Swanson put up nine points, while
Elizabeth Wagner scored six of her own, propelling the Mustangs to the 77-65.
SMSU now advances to the NSIC Tournament quarterfinals facing the No. 4 seeded UMary Marauders on Sunday at 11 a.m. More information can be found at smsumustangs.com/sports/womens-basketball.
