WINONA – The Southwest Minnesota State women’s basketball team fell 71-69 to Winona State on Friday night at the McCown Gymnasium, despite a late rally by SMSU.

SMSU drops to 8-10 overall and 5-8 in the NSIC after shooting 38 percent from the field and 29 percent from the 3-point line, while WSU advances to 9-8 overall and 7-6 in the conference, after shooting 42 percent from the field and 23 percent from the beyond the arc.

Meleah Reinhart continued her stretch of leading SMSU in scoring for her fourth consecutive game, with a team-high 15 points. Erin Baxter pitched in 13 while Caleigh Rodning and Sadie Stelter added 12 and 10 respectively.

The first quarter played to an evenly scored game to head into the second quarter with SMSU down by two at 18-16.

SMSU scored only a mere nine points in the second quarter as WSU connected for 20 points to gain a 38-25 lead at the half for its largest lead of the night.

SMSU opened the second half on a 10-2 run to cut the deficit to five points at 40-35 with 7:16 remaining in the third quarter.

The Mustangs trailed 67-57 with 2:36 to go in the final quarter before going 4 of 5 from beyond the arc as Borchers, Reinhart, Emily Buysse, and Stelter, all connected from downtown to make it a one-point game with 15 seconds remaining.

In the final quarter, The Mustangs’ daunting foul trouble captured Reinhart, Stelter, Rodning, and Sarah Buysse. The foul trouble sent the Warriors to the line 33 times as they would go 54 percent, 18 of 33 on the night.

The Warriors would go to the line with one second remaining. With Teske’s 3-pointer no good, the Warriors secured the 71-69 victory.

WSU’s Gabie Doud scored a game-high 27 points and seven rebounds to lead the Warriors the conference victory.

Southwest Minnesota State continues action tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. against Upper Iowa.

Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications