ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Audrey Swanson became the 26^th member of the 1,000-career point club in SMSU women's basketball history Thursday evening against the St. Cloud State Huskies (10-12, 7-10 NSIC). Despite Swanson's record-setting night, the Mustangs fell to the Huskies 82-67.
 
Swanson, who also scored a career-high 31 points, shot 11 of 18 from the floor. Nicole Maenke and Natalie Nielsen were the other Mustangs in double figures in scoring, with Maenke adding 11 points, and Nielsen putting 10 on the board. Nielsen also led SMSU in rebounds with 11 for her eighth double double of the season.
 
The Mustangs shot just above 40 percent from the field in the game as a team (23 of 57), 25 percent from deep (6 of 24) and 79 percent from the free throw line (15 of 19). The Huskies outrebounded the Mustangs 34-33, but the Huskies forced 19 SMSU turnovers as compared to SCSU's 12. The Huskies were led by Jada Eggebrecht with 17 points on 6 of 11 shooting, and shot 46 percent from the floor (28 of 61) and 60 percent from 3-point range (9 of 15).
 
The Huskies got off to a quick start, leading the contest 21-2 within the first six minutes of the game. SCSU shot 52 percent (10-19) from the floor in the opening 10 minutes while the Mustangs shot 19 percent (3 of 16).
 
SMSU cut the deficit to as low as seven in the second quarter, going on an 11-4 run in the opening four minutes of the second, highlighted by Audrey Swanson scoring six points in the span of less than 30 seconds. However, the Huskies capped off the first half with a 12-4 run in the final five minutes of the half, extending the lead to 15 at halftime, with the score at 44-29 in favor of SCSU.
 
The Mustangs got the better of the Huskies in the third quarter, holding SCSU to shooting 42 percent from the floor in the quarter, their worst mark in a quarter in the game. While both teams gathered eight boards, the Mustangs were the more effective team from the charity stripe going 4-4 from the line in the quarter.
 
Audrey Swanson hit the 1,000-career point mark with a 3-pointer from the left wing early in the third quarter, as the Mustangs looked to mount an improbable comeback. SMSU brought the game to within single digits midway through the period, but the Huskies maintained the pressure going on a 15-6 run in a four-minute span, effectively putting the game out of reach for the Mustangs.
 
SMSU travels to Mankato, Minn., on Saturday, Feb. 7, completing the team's four-game road stretch, facing the No. 2 ranked Minnesota State Mavericks at 1 p.m. The game will be streaming live on the NSIC Network. More information can be found at smsumustangs.com/sports/womens-basketball.