Marshall, Minn. --- The Minnesota State women's basketball team (15-5, 11-5 NSIC) traveled to Marshall, Minn. Friday evening to take on the Southwest Minnesota State women's basketball team (10-9, 7-8 NSIC). The Mavericks fell to the Mustangs 63-46.

The Mavericks offense was paced by Taylor Theusch who led the team in scoring with 12 points. Joey Batt netted nine points and led the team in assists and steals with five and four, respectively. Emily Herzberg led the Mavericks in rebounds as she hauled in six.

The Mavericks and Mustangs started the game in a tightly contested affair. The Mavericks led the majority of the first but, never led by more than four. With the game tied at 15 with 38 seconds left in the quarter Batt knocked down a three-ball to give the Mavericks a 18-15 lead at the end of the first. The second quarter turned out to be quite troublesome for the Mavericks as the Mustangs began the quarter on a 15-0 run. The Mavericks would only score one point in the second from a Rylee Menster free-throw. That was one of three points scored in the final three minutes of the half. The Mustangs held a 32-19 heading into the locker room.

The Mustangs continued their offensive surge as they began the half on an 8-2 run to take a 19-point advantage. From there, the Mavericks began to chip away at the lead. After a pair of Theusch free-throws, that sparked a 7-2 run, cut the Mustang lead down to 14. Shortly after, Theusch would help the Mavericks inch closer with one of here two three balls on the night. The Mustangs took a 47-31 lead into the fourth. Southwest Minnesota State would start quick once again in the fourth as they ripped off an 11-4 run and extended their lead to 23, the largest of the game. The Mavericks answered with an 7-0 run but, didn't have enough to get over the top. Minnesota State ultimately fell 63-46 to the Mustangs.

The Mavericks shot 33.33% from the field going 19 of 82 and 3 of 17 from beyond the arc. The Mavericks were 5-10 from the free-throw line. Minnesota state racked up 15 steals and 11 assists in the contest. The Mustangs went 18-46 from the field for 39.1% including a 11-29 mark from three-point range. The Mustangs outrebounded the Mavericks 52-40 in the game.

The Mavericks hit the floor tomorrow as they head to the University of Sioux Falls and take on the Cougars with tip-off slated for 3:30 p.m.

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