A slow start for the Southwest Minnesota State University Mustang women’s basketball team set the pace for the remainder of the game, as the Mustangs faced an 85-63 loss to Minnesota State University- Mankato on Friday, February 7 in Mankato.

The Mavericks were quick to score the first six points of the game, using that momentum to build up a 21-2 lead over the Mustangs with just over 12 minutes left before the half. The Mustangs struggled to connect with the net, making just four field goals within the first 15 minutes of play. It was not until just over four minutes before the half that the Mustangs reached double-digits. In the meantime, the Mavericks had built up a 44-11 lead. At the 2:31 mark, the Mustangs knocked down two 3-pointers, one from Annessa Rosch and the other from Bree Holleman, to cut the Mavericks down to a 48-22 lead at the half.

During the first half, the Mustangs shot 33 percent from the field and gave up 15 turnovers, compared to the Mavericks’ 56 percent from the field.

In the second half, the Mustangs worked to cut their deficit to under 20 points with just over 13 minutes of play left on the clock, with a score of 58-40 after a layup by Jessie Watts. Meanwhile, the Mavericks kept the Mustangs at an arm’s length, maintaining a 66-51 lead, followed by an 8-2 run by the Mustangs. The Mavericks answered with six unanswered points, extending their lead to 74-59. Back-to-back field goals by Rosch and Holleman would cut that lead to 74-63 with just under three minutes left in the second half. The Mavericks would go on to score the final 11 points to seal their victory.

The Mustangs were led by Rosch, who recorded a career-high 20 points. Bree Holleman was close behind with 15 points, while Ellen Degler knocked down 12 points. With the loss, the Mustangs fall to a record of 4-17 overall and 2-15 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Mavericks improve to 16-5 overall and 13-4 in the NSIC.