BOX SCORE

MARSHALL, Minn. – Northern State University had three starters in double figures and claimed a decided 40-27 advantage in rebounds, but converted on just 18 of 26 free throws (69.2 percent), as they fell 66-64 to Southwest Minnesota State University Friday evening in a road Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference contest.

The loss, NSU's third straight, dropped the Wolves to 3-5 overall and 0-3 in NSIC play, while the Mustangs picked up their first conference win and are now 4-2 on the season and an even 1-1 in league action.

The Wolves faced as much as a 7-point deficit early before battling back to take a 11-10 lead.  That lead was short-lived, however, as SMSU tore off an 11-0 run that included two of their six 3-pointers in the half to take a 21-11 lead by the media timeout midway through the half.

NSU sophomore Michaela Barondeau broke the Wolves' scoring drought with a 10-foot fade-away on the right baseline, followed by a Krista Rabenberg basket and ensuing free throw to cut the deficit in half.  The Wolves would eventually force a tie game at 26-all on another Rabenberg layup after a drive-and-dish from sophomore Nicky Rausch before heading into the halftime break down 34-30.

SMSU used a bevy of 3-pointers in that half to stay in front.  The Mustangs drained 6 of 10 attempts from long range despite coming into the game shooting just 23.7 percent from beyond the arc.  The Wolves countered with a 7-of-9 performance from the free throw line – a trend that would not continue in the second half – while limiting the Mustangs to just three trips to the line at the other end.

The Mustangs, however, showed no signs of stopping their outside-in attack, draining three more treys in the first half of the second stanza – including back-to-back 3-pointers to pull away from a 42-40 edge – while opening up the inside portions of the lane for lay-ups and trips to the free throw line.

Barondeau scored the first five points of the second half to put the Wolves up 35-34, but things quickly got away for NSU, as they found themselves down 57-45 by the 8-minute mark of the game.

The Wolves, however, would not give up, as they found themselves down by just five points with less than three minutes left to play.  Barondeau again sparked the Wolves with one of two free throws to close to within four, then followed with a big-time 3-pointer to make it a 1-point affair at 61-60.

SMSU responded with a Megan Stadler jumper to put it back to 63-60 and threatened to make it a 2-possession game as Stadler drove to the basket for a lay-up on the ensuing possession, but NSU's Jodi Reinschmidt came up with the blocked shot to keep the Mustangs out.

Sophomore Emily Becken drained two free throws and Rabenberg nailed a 15-footer to tie things up at 64-all with 39 seconds to go.  The Mustangs let the clock run down to the 10-second mark on their ensuing possession before calling time-out to set up their last shot with just three seconds left on the shot clock.

Junior Tori Fink took aim at the potential game-winner, letting fly a 3-pointer from the top of the key, but missed that attempt wide to the left.  However, Stadler was there to clean up the offensive rebound, drawing a foul in the process sending her to the free throw line for the double bonus with just 5.5 seconds left on the clock. 

Stadler, a 72.2 percent free throw shooter on the season, sank both shots, forcing the Wolves to call time-out to draw up one last play.  However, Becken's desperation shot from near mid-court missed just wide to the right, leaving the Mustangs with the 64-66 victory

Barondeau finished with a game and season-high 23 points, just three shy of her career best.  Becken and Rabenberg added 19 and 14 points, respectively, while Rabenberg also added a trio of blocks.

SMSU was led by 19 points from Heather Smith and 11 from Stadler

The Wolves are back in action on Saturday, as they face a re-match with defending national champion Minnesota State University, Mankato.  The two teams faced off just two weeks ago at the NSIC HoopsFest in Sioux Falls, S.D. with the Mavericks escaping with a narrow 64-60 victory.