MANKATO — The Southwest Minnesota State University women’s basketball team remain undefeated earning a 75-66 victory over Minnesota State University in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play on Friday night at the Taylor Center.

SMSU improves to 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the NSIC, while the Mavericks fall to 3-4 overall, 2-3 in the NSIC. The two teams will conclude the weekend series today with tipoff at 3 p.m. at the Taylor Center.

Meleah Reinhart led the Mustangs with 18 points, and in the process reached 1,000 career points, becoming the 22nd Mustang to reach this milestone. Reinhart earned her 1,000 career point on a free-throw with 34 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Abuk Aoki also had a big night scoring a season 16 points along with grabbing 9 rebounds and blocking 5 shots. Sadie Stelter added 17 points with a team high of six assists.

SMSU led 32-30 at halftime with an impressive defensive presence, holding MSU to just five points in the second quarter.

In the second half the Mustangs and Mavericks found themselves keeping pace with one another. Halfway through the third quarter though, the Mustangs would go on a 12-0 run for just over five and a half minutes to build a 49-44 lead after three quarters of play. The run was started at the 5:42 mark with an Akoi layup followed up by an Erin Baxter layup and a pair of Reinhart free-throws to tie the game. Hannah Parsley would give the Mustangs the lead with a layup and was followed up by field goals from Akoi and Baxter making the score 47-41.

SMSU held a slight 51-50 lead with 6:56 remaining in the fourth quarter before using a 10-1 run to put the game away.

The Mavericks’ Rachel Schumski, scored a team high 17 points.

— Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications