SMSU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: First quarter dooms SMSU in loss to USF
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MARSHALL -- The Southwest Minnesota State University women's basketball team came back to the R/A Facility on Sunday after a two-week break looking to snap a two-game losing streak. Their opponent, the University of Sioux Falls, had other ideas though, and used a big first quarter to build a double-digit halftime lead before holding off a late SMSU rally to earn a 69-61 victory.
SMSU coach Tom Webb said they were able to create some offensive opportunities in the second half from their defensive pressure, but they made too many mistakes early that hurt them.
"We played hard the whole game; in the second half, we got some shots to go in and when you get basketballs to go in, you can play the press. You can't press if you don't make a basket and we couldn't press in the first half, we were in transition defense the entire first quarter, we were throwing it to everyone and anyone and that's on me," Webb said. "We have to do a better job in practice, get them ready for that, we have to put more pressure on them and play with more pace and intensity and have to be ready to go."
USF got out to a strong start, scoring the first eight points of the game before a layup by Abuk Akoi got SMSU on the board with 6:30 left in the first quarter. The Cougars continued to attack, though, and built a double-digit advantage at 14-2 before going on a 10-2 run to close the frame to take a 24-4 lead after the first quarter.
Despite the early deficit, the Mustangs kept battling, getting a 3-pointer by Erin Baxter to make it 27-11 with 5:30 left in the first half before a 3-pointer by Sam Wall and a layup by Akoi drew SMSU to within 13 at 29-16 with 3:48 left. The two teams then traded points to end the half, but USF maintained its lead, going up 40-23 at halftime.
The second half saw the Cougars continue to push their advantage, as they got a layup and a 3-pointer to make it 49-25 with 6:20 left in the third quarter. SMSU would have an answer, though, as Sadie Stelter connected on a 3-pointer before Akoi got a 3-point play to draw the deficit to 53-38 with 1:35 left in the frame.
SMSU would get it to within 14 at 55-41 going into the fourth quarter before Akoi connected on a 3-pointer to make it 55-44 with 9:07 left. The Mustangs kept attacking, as Stelter got a 3-point play to trim the deficit to single digits at 55-47 with 8:29 left, but the Cougars answered with a 7-2 run to take a 62-49 lead with five minutes left.
SMSU responded quickly, as Stelter would get another 3-point play to get SMSU to within single digits at 62-55 with 2:29 left before Stelter connected on a 3-pointer to draw the deficit to five at 63-58 with 2:01 left. The Mustangs got to within five again at 66-61 on a 3-pointer by Jenna Borchers with 43 seconds left, but that was the closest they got en route to the 69-61 final.
Stelter led SMSU with 15 points while Akoi added 14 and Meleah Reinhart had nine. Stelter also led in rebounds with nine while Borchers and Stelter led in assists with five each. As a team, SMSU shot 38.6% (22 of 57) from the field, including 8 of 28 (28.6%) from 3-point range.
Webb said offensively, their pace improved in the second half and they moved the ball around more to get quality shots.
"We had better pace and used the press to make a couple of baskets," Webb said. "We got in transition and then a couple of shots went; we got downhill a little more and moved the basketball side to side a little bit better and we got better looks."
Defensively, SMSU allowed USF to shoot 27 of 60 (45%) from the field, including 6 of 14 (42.9%) from 3-point range and forced 18 turnovers.
Up next
SMSU (7-5 overall, 4-4 NSIC) will continue its homestand next weekend, taking on Minot State University on Friday at 7:30 p.m. before facing the University of Mary on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
USF 69, SMSU 61
USF 24 16 15 14 - 69
SMSU 4 19 18 20 - 61
Scoring: SMSU (Stelter 5-11, 3-4 15; Akoi 6-11, 1-1 14; Reinhart 3-9, 3-5 9; Wall 2-4, 0-2 6; Stoltzman 2-2, 0-0 4; Jones 1-6, 2-4 4; Gehloff 1-1, 0-0 3; Borchers 1-7, 0-0 3; Baxter 1-5, 0-0 3).
Rebounds: SMSU 37 (Stelter 9; Akoi, Reinhart 5).
Assists: SMSU 15 (Stelter, Borchers 5).
Steals: SMSU 7 (Reinhart 3).