Marshall, Minn. --- The Minnesota State women's basketball team (4-2, 1-1 NSIC) lost their first conference game this season against the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs (4-3, 1-1 NSIC) Friday night in Marshall, Minn.

In the opening minutes of the game, the Mavericks jumped ahead thanks to six early points from Taylor Drost, that gave them an 11-6 advantage.  The Mustangs battled back to tie with six seconds to go in the first quarter, but senior guard Monica Muth took the ball down the court and drilled a midrange floater to give Minnesota State a 22-20 lead at the end of the quarter. 

The Mavericks struggled to find an offensive flow in the second quarter and the Mustangs took advantage of that building themselves a 34-25 lead.  After the Mustangs scored another bucket, the Mavericks responded with a 9-0 run to end the half, shrinking the SMSU lead to 36-33. 

Minnesota State led the rebound battle 24-15 in the first half and shot 40.0% compared to 14.3% from beyond the arc.  Drost and Emmaline Polson finished the half with seven points for the Mavericks and Tayla Stuttley added five. 

Coming out of halftime, Minnesota State continued their impressive run, ultimately pushing it to 18-0 and retaking the lead before the Mustangs ended it with a pair of free throws, leaving the Mavericks with a 44-38 lead.  SMSU responded with a 15-4 run of their own to retake the lead at 53-48 with 1:41 to go in the third quarter and the Mavericks hit a late put back to put them within two, 55-53, going into the fourth.

The runs continued in the fourth quarter with the Mustangs going on a 7-0 run to start.  Responding once more, the Mavericks re-took the lead with a three-point shot from Rylee Menster.  SMSU regained the lead and a pair of free throws from Menster made it a two-point game for the Mustangs.  After a free throw made gave SMSU a 74-71 lead with 14.9 seconds to go Rachel Shumski scored quickly on an inside basket cutting it to a 1-point game.  On the inbounds the Mavericks stole the ball and had a chance to win the game at the buzzer but the layup attempt went long giving the Mustangs the win. 

Three Mavericks scored in double digits, Menster with twelve, while Kirstin Klitzke and Stuttley each added twelve.  Brooke Tonsfeldt led Minnesota State with seven rebounds and had nine points of her own in the game.

The Mavericks held the edge from distance hitting 8-14 from three-point range compared to 3-16 and out rebounded the Mustangs 41-29.  The difference ultimately proved to be turnovers as the Mavericks committed 28-22 in the game, which led to 36 points off turnovers in the game for the Mustangs. 

The Maverick's will continue their road trip tomorrow as the take on the Sioux Falls Cougars tomorrow at 4:00 p.m.