MARSHALL, Minn. —- #4 Minnesota State suffered its first loss of the season Saturday as it fell to Southwest Minnesota State 88-85.

With the loss, MSU drops to 10-1 on the season, including a 6-1 NSIC record. With the win, SMSU improves to 8-4, including a 5-2 conference record.

By the midpoint of the first quarter the Mavericks held a 14-11 lead. Junior Joey Batt accounted for five of MSU's points as five different Mavericks reached the scoring column in the opening minutes. The Mavericks would maintain their lead throughout the opening quarter as MSU led 25-23 after the first 10 minutes.

The lead changed hands four times early in the second quarter, but the Mavericks found themselves leading by six at 36-30 with 6:06 to go in the half. The Mustangs would go on a 12-6 run over the next three minutes to tie the score at 42-42. SMSU would eventually take a 47-46 lead into halftime.

Batt led the Mavericks in the first half with 12 points and four steals, while sophomore Destinee Bursch notched 10 points. As a team, MSU shot 51.4% from the field in the first half. The Mavericks also scored 19 points off of 14 SMSU turnovers.

Sam Wall led SMSU in the first half with 20 points, while Bri Stoltzman recorded 11 points. As a team, the Mustangs shot 59.3% from the field in the first half.

Five minutes into the third quarter, the Mustangs held a two-point lead at 57-55. SMSU then connected on back-to-back threes to go up by eight at 63-55 with 4:11 to go in the quarter. The Mustangs would eventually end the third quarter with a 69-60 lead.

The fourth quarter saw the Mustangs build a 13-point lead at 81-68 with 4:35 to go. The Mavericks responded with a 10-0 run over the next three minutes, including seven points from Batt, to cut SMSU's lead to three at 81-78. The Mavericks managed to get back within two points of the Mustangs on two occasions during the closing minutes but SMSU would hang on for the 88-85 win.

Batt matched her career-high with 32 points, to go along with five assists and five steals. Bursch finished with 15 points as well, while freshman Ava Stier added 11 points and nine rebounds.

As a team, MSU shot 46.3% from the field, including a 7-of-16 (.438) performance from downtown. The Mavericks also recorded 14 steals and notched 27 points off of 23 SMSU turnovers.

Wall led the Mustangs with 25 points, while Stoltzman added 16 points and nine rebounds. Hannah Parsley tallied 15 points and nine rebounds also.

As a team, SMSU shot 50.9% from the field, including a 13-of-28 (.464) showing from three point range.

Minnesota State returns to action on Saturday, December 31, as it travels to Concordia-St. Paul. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

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