MANKATO, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State women's basketball team (13-10, 11-7 NSIC) gave the undefeated No. 2 ranked Minnesota State Mavericks (24-0, 18-0) arguably their toughest test of the season so far, dropping a close battle 79-71.
Kylan Gerads led the Mustangs in both points and rebounds with 19 and 11 respectively. Gerads shot 7 of 13 from the floor, 2 of 5 from 3-point range, and managed her third double double of the season.
Audrey Swanson followed her record-setting performance on Thursday with 10 points, four assists, and two steals.
Maddie Thorfinnson had nine points, shooting 2 of 3 from beyond the arc, and
Natalie Nielsen added seven points and nine rebounds.
The Mustangs as a team shot 51 percent from the field (27 of 53) and 36 percent from deep (8 of 22). SMSU outrebounded MSU 50-33, the most rebounds in a game since Jan. 11 last year against Minot State. The Mavericks forced SMSU into committing 40 turnovers, with MSU getting 20 steals. Minnesota State, led by Natalie Bremer with 20 points, shot 30 percent from the floor (22 of 73) and 19 percent from behind the 3-point line (3 of 16). MSU attempted 41 free throws to SMSU's 10.
Minnesota State got the better of the Mustangs in the opening 10 minutes, leading 22-14. MSU shot 6 of 16 from the field while SMSU shot 5 of 12 with each team making one 3-pointer. The Mavericks were the more aggressive team driving to the basket, shooting 10 free throws as compared to the Mustangs four, while SMSU committed 13 turnovers.
SMSU battled back in the second quarter, shooting 53 percent from the floor (8 of 15) and 57 percent from deep (4 of 7). Tough defense by Coach Webb's team held the Mavericks to shoot less than 30 percent from the floor (6 of 22) and 0 of 6 from beyond the arc. SMSU outrebounded MSU 17-7, eventually making the game 38-34 in favor of the Mavericks.
The Mustangs once again were the more efficient team shooting the ball from the floor in the third quarter, shooting 64 percent from the field (9 of 14). Minnesota State shot 6 of 20 from the floor in the quarter, shooting 10 free throws as compared to SMSU's zero. The Mustangs took a 52-50 lead with 2:08 left in the quarter with a 3-pointer by
Brynn Busse, however the Mavericks would go on a 10-2 run to close the third with a 60-54 lead.
MSU began the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run in the opening 3:46 of the quarter with six Mustang turnovers in that period. SMSU, in a late comeback attempt, went on a 17-5 run in the next four minutes, with five points from Gerads and Thorfinnson making the score 72-71 in favor of MSU. But the Mavericks would score the final seven points in two minutes, ending the Mustangs upset bid 79-71.
SMSU is back in the R/A Facility next week facing Winona State on Thursday, Feb. 12, at 5:30 p.m., and Concordia-St. Paul on Saturday, Feb. 14, at 2 p.m. Both games will be streaming live on the NSIC Network.
