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Looking to defend their seven-game home winning streak, Southwest Minnesota State University had to face its toughest challenge of that stretch, Concordia-St. Paul, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference's top team.

With five Division I transfers on the team, the Golden Bears, currently ranked 20th in Division II, are capable of playing a lineup of Division I-caliber talent.

"Concordia's really good," SMSU head coach Mike Jewett said. "They're so fast end-to-end and I thought we gave them too many easy baskets in the first half and that really created some separation."

Zoraa Quoie and Gillian Bjerke combined for 43 points, helping the Golden Bears break the Mustangs' home winning streak with a 100-78 win on Saturday at the R/A Facility.

Quoie had 23, while Bjerke finished with 20 points and seven rebounds. Maurika Hickman added 13 for the Golden Bears.

"They're a very talented team and they shot very well tonight and that's just something you can't stop," junior center Laura Kramer said. "You got to play as good as you can when they're shooting that well."

Already playing without Heather Smith due to a knee injury on Friday, SMSU was without Tori Fink, who sat out with a bruised knee.

The Mustangs struggled without Smith and Fink in the lineup. The two have combined for 21.5 points per game this season.

"I think everyone is just going to have to step up and do their part," Kramer said about the team's injuries. "I think we just have to work as a team more and just do our goals and do our part and do what we can."

For the first 10 minutes, the Mustangs hung tough with the Golden Bears (8-1 NSIC, 14-2 overall). But after Lucia Puchelova hit a jumper with 10:37 remaining until halftime, C-SP made SMSU pay for the next four minutes.

The Golden Bears went on a 19-0 run, putting C-SP ahead 44-15 with 6:24 left. Bjerke led the run with six points. The Mustangs shot 33.3 percent in the first half.

"We were unable to convert any scoring opportunities and it resulted in quick, easy scoring opportunities for them," Jewett said. "When a team shoots 57 percent and you shoot 33 percent, you're going to be behind, it just depends by how much."

SMSU showed some life in the second half, shooting 45.5 percent from the field, outscoring the Golden Bears 48-47. Kramer finished with a career-high 19 points. She also grabbed 12 boards for her fourth double-double of the season.

"I was real proud about how we played in the second half," Jewett said. "I thought we played a lot better and gave a lot more effort and played more confident."

The Mustangs (5-4, 11-5) hit the road next weekend, taking on Augustana on Friday and Wayne State on Saturday.

"I got confidence in the kids that are healthy right now," Jewett said. "I think it's dealing with the reality of the situation we have enough talent to compete night in and night out."

Concordia-St. Paul (100)

Maurika Hickman 6-10 0-0 13, Kali Olstad 3-9 0-0 9, Jamie Jones 4-6 2-2 11, Jineen Williams 2-10 1-4 5, Gillian Bjerke 8-16 4-5 20, Zoraa Quoie 8-10 3-3 23, Chanica Hall 3-4 3-3 10, Ashley Viehauser 3-4 0-0 6, Ari Johnson 1-1 1-2 3, Michelle Hugelen 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 38-71 14-19 100.

SMSU (78)

Megan Stadler 3-9 0-0 8, Abby Kenealy 4-15 4-4 12, Taylor Voss 4-8 0-0 10, Lucia Puchelova 2-12 2-2 7, Laura Kramer 6-13 7-10 19, Landi Hunziker 3-4 0-0 7, Miley Hunziker 6-11 1-2 15. Totals 28-72 14-18 78.

Three-pointers-C-SP 10 (Hickman, Olstad 3, Jones, Quoie 4, Hall), SMSU 8 (Stadler 2, Voss 2, Puchelova, L. Hunziker, M. Hunziker 2); Rebounds-C-SP 41 (Hickman 5, Olstad 7, Williams 8, Bjerke 7, Quoie 3, Hall 4, Viehauser 3, Johnson 1), SMSU 39 (Stadler, Kenealy 6, Voss 5, Puchelova 3, Kramer 12, L. Hunziker 4, M. Hunziker); Assists-C-SP 19 (Hickman 7, Williams 2, Quoie 3, Hall 7), SMSU 18 (Stadler 8, Kenealy, Voss, Puchelova 4, Kramer, M. Hunziker 3); Steals-C-SP 12 (Hickman 2, Jones 4, Williams 3, Bjerke, Hall 2), SMSU 6 (Kenealy 2, Voss, Puchelova 2, M. Hunziker); Blocks-C-SP 5 (Hickman, Olstad, Williams 2, Hugelen), SMSU 0; Turnovers-C-SP 12, SMSU 14; Total Fouls-C-SP 15, SMSU 14.

Halftime Score C-SP 53, SMSU 30.