MARSHALL — For the first time since the 2005-05 season, the Southwest Minnesota State University womens basketball team is 7-0. The Mustangs defeated Bethany Lutheran College by a lopsided margin of 111-58 in non-conference-play on Saturday, leaving them one win shy of tying the team’s first eight-game season-opening win streak since 1975.

Bethany Lutheran stayed close early but SMSU ripped off an 11-2 run over the final three minutes of the first quarter to lead 25-12.

After slightly extending the lead to 26-27 at halftime, the Mustang offense erupted in the second half. SMSU outscored Bethany Lutheran 33-19 in the third quarter and 32-12 in the fourth.

South Dakota State transfer Natalie Nielsen set a career-high with 16 points on 16 of 16 shooting. She also grabbed four rebounds and blocked two shots in just 12 minutes on the court.

Peyton Blandin led the team in scoring with 17 points on 7 of 10 shooting to go along with five rebounds. Audrey Swanson poured in another 16 points on 7 of 9 shooting and tied Kennadi Buchholz with a team-leading six rebounds.

SMSU held just a narrow 40-37 rebounding advantage and was outrebounded 11-9 on the offensive glass, but still found a way to build a 15-5 advantage in second-chance points.

Bri Stoltzman, the team’s leading scorer and an All-NSIC selection last year, missed the game due to a lower-body injury she sustained last weekend. Still, SMSU showed off its depth despite her absence with Nicole Maenke scoring 11 points and Buchholz and Maddie Thorfinnson adding another 10 each.

Maenke led the team with three steals while Buchholz and Kenzie Jones each finished with another two, helping SMSU to a 24-2 advantage in points off turnovers.

Brylee Iverson had two blocks and a steal in the game.

SMSU, now 7-0 on the year, will look to extend the streak when they host Minnesota Duluth and Concordia-St. Paul this weekend. Friday’s game against UMD is slated for 5:30 while Saturday’s against CSP is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.