A hot start for the University of Mary Marauder women’s basketball team gave them a huge advantage in their win over the Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs. SMSU fell to UMary 84-63.

The Marauders opened up the game by scoring the first 16 points before Mikayla Saathoff scored a layup to end the Marauders’ scoring streak with just over 13 minutes left in the first half. The Mustangs slowly chipped away at UMary’s lead, narrowing the deficit to 29-24 with under six minutes left before the half. However, the Marauder’s were quick to respond with a 7-0 run to push their lead to 36-24, before ending the first half with a 41-31 advantage.

UMary help a double-digit lead early in the second half. Another run by the Mustangs cut the deficit to 53-46, followed by a jumper by Allison Nagel with 13 minutes left on the clock. However, this seven-point deficit would be the closest the Mustangs came to taking the lead. The Marauders used a 9-0 scoring run to take a 75-58 advantage.

Overall, the Mustangs shot 37 percent from the field and 5 of 14 from behind the arc. The Mustangs were led by Alison Nagel, who knocked down 14 points and six rebounds. Nagel was followed by Ellen Degler and Mikayla Saathoff, who scored eight points apiece.

With the loss the Mustangs fall to an overall record of 4-19 and 2-15 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Marauders improve to 14-9 overall and 9-8 in the NSIC.