SMSU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Mustangs’ comeback falls short against Cougars, 74-71
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MARSHALL -- In its first meeting against the University of Sioux Falls, the Southwest Minnesota State University women's basketball team saw the Cougars put up a consistent scoring attack in a 100-77 victory for USF in November. Saturday's second matchup was a lot tighter down the stretch, but a second-half spark by the Mustangs wasn't enough to overcome a poor first half as SMSU dropped its fifth straight game with a 74-71 loss to the Cougars at the R/A Facility.
SMSU coach Tom Webb said they weren't in a rhythm in the first half and was proud of the way his team regrouped at half and fought back to bring it down to the wire.
"The first half we just looked really out of sync. We came back at halftime, regrouped, settled in and kind of played how we wanted to play," Webb said. "I probably should have pressed earlier, we struggled a little bit with them the first time, but that got us going in the second half and we had a shot to tie and take it to overtime. I'm proud of our kids, they worked hard, and we'll get there."
SMSU slowed
down early
SMSU struggled to generate scoring in the first half, as USF got out to a 7-0 lead and take a 20-11 lead after the first quarter. The second frame saw the Cougars connect on back-to-back 3-pointers to take a 28-11 lead with 8:09 left in the first half, but a 3-pointer and back-to-back baskets by Abuk Akoi cut the deficit to 13 midway through the quarter. USF would continue to hold its double-digit lead through the rest of the half as the Cougars took a 43-29 lead at the break.
Comeback falls short
Looking for a boost, the Mustangs got out a stronger start to begin the second half, as a 3-point play by Meleah Reinhart and a pair of free throws from Madison Gehloff brought SMSU to within 10 at 47-37 with 6:51 left in the third quarter. The Mustangs continued to draw closer over the next few minutes, with a layup cut the deficit to single digits before free throws by Reinhart made it a five-point game at 56-51.
SMSU's solid play continued in the fourth, with the Mustangs opening the frame with a 5-0 run before a 3-pointer by Reinhart gave SMSU its first lead of the game with seven minutes to go. The two teams then traded points over the next few possessions, with USF going on a 6-0 run to retake the lead before a 3-point play by Akoi brought SMSU to within two at 70-68 with two minutes remaining.
After Reinhart connected on a 3-pointer to make it a two-point game with 10 seconds to go, the Cougars drew a foul on the other end, but only made one of the two free throws. SMSU had one last chance to force overtime, but a 3-pointer attempt came up just short and the Cougars would escape with a 74-71 victory.
Webb said they went to their press in the second half and that helped their team get out in transition and create space on the floor for their offense to bring themselves back into the game.
"We went back to our press a little bit and we wanted to play with pace and create space, go downhill more," Webb said. "They were just guarding us the first half and we were standing around a little bit and didn't have great movement. We were down at half on the glass, so we did a better job of that in the second half."
Reinhart led the way for the Mustangs with 25 points while Akoi added a career-high 22 and Jenna Borchers had seven. Akoi led in rebounds with 13 while Borchers led in assists with four.
Up next
SMSU (5-6, 0-6 NSIC) will now have a couple of weeks off before returning to action on Jan. 3 when it faces Augustana University at 5:30 p.m. Webb said their biggest takeaway is they need to play for about three minutes longer in every game.
"We've got to play for about three minutes longer in every game," Webb said. "If play for three minutes longer in every game, we're probably looking at being 4-2 [in conference play], but we're not, we're 0-6. If we do that, things will turn around in a hurry.
USF 20 23 15 16 -- 74
SMSU 11 18 22 20 -- 71
Scoring: SMSU (Reinhart 7-13, 8-8 25; Akoi 9-13, 4-5 22; Borchers 3-13, 0-0 7; Baxter 2-5, 0-0 5; Stelter 2-8, 0-0 5; Teske 2-3, 0-0 4; Gehloff 0-1, 2-2 2; Wall 0-1, 1-2 1).
Rebounds: SMSU 44 (Akoi 13; Reinhart 8; Teske 6; Baxter 5).
Assists: SMSU 17 (Borchers 4; Akoi, Reinhart 3; Stelter, Gehloff 2; Teske, Wall, Hutton 1).
Steals: SMSU 1 (Baxter).
Blocks: SMSU 6 (Akoi 3; Baxter, Borchers, Schoeknecht 1).