MANKATO — The Minnesota State Mavericks defeated the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs women’s basketball team 96-74 behind a balanced scoring attack that would see four separate players score at least 15 points on Saturday night in the Taylor Center.

SMSU ended the night shooting 47.2 percent (25 of 53), but would turn the ball over 22 times in defeat. Minnesota State shot 49.3 percent (35 of 71), only turning the ball over nine times and never trailed throughout the game.

Sadie Stelter and Abuk Akoi each scored 16 points and grabbed 6 rebounds for SMSU. Stelter would connect on 3 of 5 three-point attempts, while Akoi would shoot an efficient 6 of 8 from the floor. Sam Wall would perform well off the bench, scoring 13 points while also shooting 3 of 5 from behind the arc.

MSU was led by Destinee Bursch, Emily Russo, Maddy Olson, and Joey Batt, who combined for 69 points in the victory.

The teams would score six points apiece in the first three minutes to open the scoring. After a Maverick three and Hannah Parsley layup to give MSU a one point lead, the Mavericks would close the quarter scoring 20 of 29 points to take a 29-17 lead into the second quarter.

The Mustangs would open the second quarter on a 9-3 run, capped by a Stelter three, to cut the MSU lead to 32-26. The Mavericks answered with an 8-2 run of their own to grow their lead back to 12 at 40-28 with 4:05 to go in the half.

SMSU would counter with a 10-3 run in the final two and a half minutes, but MSU would drill a three as time expired to give them a 46-38 halftime lead.

Each team would come out of the locker room cold, as SMSU shot 1 of 5 in the first three minutes, while MSU would open 1 of 4. After a pair of MSU free throws, Meleah Reinhart would get to the bucket for a layup, but MSU would come right back with 12 straight points to grow their lead to 62-42 with 4:04 to go in the third quarter.

Stelter would take things into her own hands, making a pair of free throws and a deep three to cut the MSU lead down to 64-49. Each team would score four points to get the score to 68-53, but the final four points would go in favor of MSU, giving them a 72-53 lead into the fourth quarter.

MSU would outscore SMSU 24-21 in the fourth quarter to bring the game to its final score.

SMSU will be back in action Sunday, Jan. 2 to face Sioux Falls in the R/A Facility.

— Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications