MN State women eliminate SMSU from NSIC Tourney

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (SMSU) — Joey Batt and Destinee Bursch combined for 48 points on Monday to aid Minnesota State to an 88-72 victory over the Southwest Minnesota State University women’s basketball team in the NSIC Tournament semifinals inside the Sanford Pentagon.

SMSU ends the season at 19-12 overall, while MSU moves to 25-5 overall and advances to the NSIC Tournament Championship for a second consecutive season.

Bri Stoltzman led the Mustangs with 26 points on 8 of 14 shooting with 10 rebounds and a team-high five steals. Stoltzman’s performance in tonight’s game has broken the single-season record for points scored in a season in program history, totaling 579 points. Madison Gehloff followed behind chipping in 17 points on 3 of 8 shooting with four rebounds. Sam Wall added 15 points.

Joey Batt scored 26 points on 12 of 18 shooting for Minnesota State while pulling down two rebounds and snatching a steal.

The Mustangs closed the game shooting 40 percent from the field (21 of 53) including 12 makes from beyond the arc. MSU shot 48 percent in the game (31 of 65) including 2 of 11 from the 3-point line.

Minnesota State jumped out to a 19-6 lead to start the game, holding SMSU to 2 of 5 shooting while forcing six turnovers over the first five minutes. The Mustangs countered over the next four minutes and some change, storming back on an 18-10 run to cut the deficit to five points with 45 seconds to play in the first. The Mavericks tacked on five more points in the remaining time to lead 34-26 going into the second quarter.

The Mustangs carried momentum from the first quarter run into the next phase of play, garnering a run backed by scores from Bri Stoltzman and Sam Wall to get back into the game. SMSU eventually gained the lead at 37-36 with 4:58 to play in the first half, but it would be the only time the Mustangs led. Both teams battled to the end of the half, going bucket-for-bucket on their respective possessions to close the first half at 48-46 in favor of the Mavericks.

Destinee Bursch drained a layup to get the Mavericks going in the second half. MSU went on a 13-2 run to take a staggering 12-point lead at 6:38 in the third quarter. SMSU countered with a run of their own, using two 3-pointers from Madison Gehloff and points from Bri Stoltzman to keep up with MSU. Following a pair of free throws for Stoltzman, MSU brought the ball coast-to-coast and scored with time running out. 67-61 in favor of MSU.

The Mavericks outscored the Mustangs 21-11 in the fourth quarter, limiting SMSU to just 3 of 14 shooting in the final frame while out-rebounding the Mustangs 11-9.

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