Box Score Marshall, Minn.— In its final game of the season the Minnesota State Mavericks cruised past the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs 57-47.

The win puts MSU back at .500, finishing 13-13 to finish the season. The Mavericks 50 percent shooting in the second half would guide them to the victory.

The NSIC’s leading rebounder Ali Wilkinson would have another stellar game on the glass, collecting nine rebounds in the game and ten points.

As both teams came out slow on the offensive side, the Mavericks jumped out to an early 5-0 lead as they held the Mustangs scoreless the first four minutes. Minnesota State junior Laura Weber would earn five boards in the first five minutes of the game.

SMSU jumped out to its first lead of 17-16 with 6:13 remaining in the first half on a jumper by Abby Kenealy. It wouldn’t last long as junior Jennie Noreen drained a trey to put MSU back on top by two with 4:07 remaining.

Noreen and Weber powered the Minnesota State offense in the first half with eight points a piece. The Mavericks would come away with nine steals and force12 turnovers on the Mustangs in the half.

MSU would capitalize on a 10-1 run to close the first half, giving it a 30-20 advantage after 20 minutes of play. Minnesota State would outshoot Southwest Minnesota State 11-of-28 (39 percent) to 8-of-24 (33 percent) in the half.

Through the first seven minutes of the second half, each team would score six points a piece, as the Mavericks would maintain its double-digit lead.

The Mustangs would leap back into the game after draining three shots from three-point land, tightening the game to 40-35. Minnesota State’s Andrea Walsh would end the SMSU 9-0 run by hitting a three-pointer to give the Mavericks a 43-36 lead.

Late in the half, freshman Alli Hoefer made a couple clutch lay-ups to help secure the Maverick win. Hoefer would end the day with seven points in the game.

MSU would hold off the Mustangs from making a field goal in the last three minutes and 49 seconds. In a game with four lead changes, the Mavericks would finish with 12 steals, 22 points in the paint and 22 points off turnovers.

Minnesota State would end the day shooting 19-of-44 (43 percent) from the floor and 5-of-12 (42 percent) from three-point territory. The Mustangs would shoot 15-of-48 (31 percent) from the floor and 6-of-16 (37.5 percent) from beyond the arc.

The Mavericks lone senior Andrea Walsh would end her career as a Maverick Saturday night. Walsh would finish with nine points on the night, ending with 268 points on the season. Walsh would tally 444 points and 247 assists in her career 60 games for Minnesota State.


Head Coach Pam Gohl talks about the win: