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SMSU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Mustangs earn first conference weekend sweep of the season with OT win over UMary

BISMARCK, S.D. — Earning its first overtime victory since the 2004-2005 season, the Southwest Minnesota State women’s basketball team held off the University of Mary to a 91-85 victory to earn the Mustangs their first conference weekend sweep of the 2019-20 season on Saturday night in the McDowell Activity Center.

With the victory, the Mustangs advance to 9-8 overall and 4-8 in the NSIC, while UMary drops to 12-9 overall and 6-6 in the conference.

SMSU shot 48 percent from the field (32-of-67), 44 percent from 3-point line (8-of-18), and 91 percent from the free throw line (19-of-21) to edge over the Marauders, who recorded 46 percent shooting from the field (29-of-63), 15 percent from the 3-point line (3-of-20), and 80 percent from the free throw line (24-of-30).

The Mustangs were led in scoring by Jenna Borchers, who finished with a career-high 30 points. Sadie Stelter also recorded a career-high 24, while Meleah Reinhart added 15 and Abuk Akoi finished with 10. Stelter also grabbed a team-high six rebounds.

The Marauders were led by Cassie Askvig, the reigning NSIC north division player of the week, who finished with a career-high 45 points.

The Mustangs prevailed, despite being out-rebounded 41-to-31.

The Marauders held a three-point edge at the end of the first quarter, but the Mustangs came out in the second quarter to bounce back and regain the lead at 9:05 with a 3-pointer from Stelter for a 26-23 advantage.

The Mustangs earned so much as a seven-point lead before the Marauders swung the pendulum the other way to not only tie the game, but to earn their own seven-point lead in the same quarter.

The Marauders held a one-point lead heading into half at 43-42, but a 3-pointer from Sam Wall to open the quarter would put the Mustangs back up. SMSU would hold onto this lead until the final three minutes of the third, but would thwart off the Marauders to hold a one-point lead heading into the final quarter of regulation.

With 40 seconds remaining, Borchers drove in the lane to tie the game and send the game into overtime.

With 43 seconds left, UMary’s Askvig tied the game at 85-85 with a jumper before fouling Reinhart who went to the line to sink both free throws and put the Mustangs up 87-85. The Mustangs would earn the remainder of the points from the free-throw line as Borchers would then go 4-of-4 to earn the 91-85 overtime victory.

Southwest Minnesota State returns home next weekend to face Winona State on Friday and Upper Iowa on Saturday, both in the R/A Facility.

— Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications

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