Photo by Sam Thiel SMSU’s Meleah Reinhart drives into the lane during their game against the University of Minnesota Duluth on Saturday. The Mustangs fell to the Bulldogs 70-59.

MARSHALL – The Southwest Minnesota State University women’s basketball team headed into Saturday’s matchup against the University of Minnesota Duluth looking to snap a winless start to its conference schedule and a three-game losing streak. Meanwhile their opponent, the Bulldogs, were hoping to continue its trend in the opposite direction of seven straight wins after an 0-3 start to their season.

The Mustangs held a lead through three quarters, but a 29-15 fourth-quarter advantage by UMD was the difference maker, as SMSU dropped a 70-59 outcome at the R/A Facility.

SMSU coach Tom Webb said he feels they’re continuing to make steps in the right direction and growing and learning as a young team with each game.

“We’re closer, we’re a lot closer. I think we learned a lot [Saturday] about ourselves, which is a good thing,” Webb said. “We just broke down in big moments and sometimes still when you’re younger and have no seniors on the floor and at times two freshmen on the floor, that’s growth, but you can’t have it much longer. I think we’re a lot closer than people think and I think we’re a lot closer than people feel and we will get there.”

Key run closes half for second straight night

Just as it did against the Huskies, the Mustangs saw a back-and-forth battle in the opening half. SMSU would hold the lead early in the first quarter at 6-5, but UMD responded with an 11-4 run to close out the opening frame and take a 16-10 lead after one.

That momentum continued to grow for the Bulldogs in the second quarter, with UMD pushing its advantage to as many as 11 at 26-15 with 4:35 left in the half. But for the second time in as many nights, a strong push by SMSU helped the Mustangs cut into their deficit and this time take a lead going into the break.

After a pair of free throws by Erin Baxter stopped a two-minute scoreless streak, SMSU got a Meleah Reinhart layup and a pair of 3-pointers from Jenna Borchers and Sam Wall to make it a three-point game before Reinhart connected on four free throws to give the Mustangs a 29-28 lead at halftime.

Webb said a key factor during their 14-2 run to close the half was their ability to create some space and move the ball around and it led to chances at the rim and from the perimeter.

“Lily [Schoknecht] came in and gave us some space at the high post and screened a little bit and got us moving,” Webb said. “The ball got to the rim and a couple of threes went in; I think we were 2-for-15 or something from three to start the game and it’s hard. We shoot the 3, so a couple of balls have to go in and then you have a shot.”

Fourth-quarter boost for Bulldogs

Looking to maintain its late-half push, SMSU opened the second half with a couple of 3-pointers from Baxter and Sadie Stelter before both teams traded points throughout the remainder of the third quarter. Minnesota Duluth would go on a 7-2 run to take a 39-37 lead with under three minutes to play, but SMSU still found itself with a slim advantage at 44-41 heading into the final quarter.

Unfortunately for SMSU, that lead would quickly disappear in the opening minutes of the fourth, as UMD began the frame with a 9-2 run before a 3-pointer from Stelter made it a one-point game at 50-49 with 6:20 to go. That was the closest the Mustangs got, though, and a quick response in the form of an 11-2 run by the Bulldogs made it a double-digit advantage before UMD rolled to a 70-59 victory.

SMSU was led by Baxter with 15 points while Reinhart added 14 and Borchers had 12. Baxter and Sara Teske led in rebounds with seven each while Reinhart led in assists with three. As a team, the Mustangs shot 30.4% (17-of-56) from the field, including 8-of-25 from beyond the arc (32%) and hitting 17 of its 18 free throws.

Brooke Olson was the leading scorer for UMD with a game-high 23 points while Ann Simonet added 11 and Maesyn Thiesen had 10. The Bulldogs shot 43.8% as a group (21-of-48) but was limited to just three triples (3-of-12).

Up next

SMSU (5-5, 0-5 NSIC) will wrap up the 2019 part of its schedule with a home matchup against the University of Sioux Falls next Saturday at 2 p.m. Before they head into their holiday break, Webb said they’ll use the next couple of days to rest up and study for finals before turning their focus to the Cougars at the end of the week.

“It’s finals week, so you give them a couple of days off and let them rest, let them study, do all of that, grades are the most important thing, that’s why they’re here,” Webb said. “Then we’ve got to guard and play fast and get to the rim and go get one.”

Minnesota Duluth 70, SMSU 59

UMD 16 12 13 29 – 70

SMSU 10 19 15 15 – 59

Scoring: SMSU (Baxter 5-14, 4-4 15; Reinhart 2-13, 10-10 14; Borchers 4-11, 0-0 12; Stelter 2-7, 2-2 8; Akoi 2-3, 0-0 4; Wall 2-6, 0-0 5; Gehloff 0-1, 1-2 1).

Rebounds: SMSU 43 (Baxter, Teske 7; Reinhart, Akoi 6; Borchers, Schoknecht 3; Gehloff 2; Stelter, Wall 1).

Assists: SMSU 9 (Reinhart 3; Stelter 2; Baxter, Borchers, Akoi, Teske 1).

Steals: SMSU 10 (Teske 3; Baxter, Wall 2; Reinhart, Borchers, Akoi 1).

Blocks: SMSU 1 (Schoknecht).