BEMIDJI —  Audrey Swanson scored a career-high 24 points on ultra-efficient shooting as the No. 23 Southwest Minnesota State womens basketball team picked up a 77-51 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference win.

Swanson led the Mustangs with 24 points on 10 of 13 shooting. She knocked down each of her three attempts from the charity stripe and her lone 3-point attempt. On the defensive end, she also recorded a pair of steals and a block.

Bemidji State played SMSU tight in the first half, limiting the Mustangs to a 14-11 edge in the first quarter and a 20-18 edge in the second. Yet, SMSU turned up the defensive intensity after the break and outscored the Beavers 21-11 and 22-11 in the game’s final two quarters.

Reigning Division II National Player of the Week Bri Stoltzman posted a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double. Peyton Blandin and Kenzie Jones each also scored 12 points for SMSU, each knocking down a pair of 3-pointers.

Stoltzman recorded four steals and a block while Maddie Thorfinnson added another pair of steals and a block.

SMSU improves to 17-2 overall on the season. Its 11-2 conference record keeps it tied with Concordia-St. Paul for second in the NSIC behind Minnesota State, who fell to 13-1 on the season after falling 93-82 to Northern State on Friday.

The Mustangs will next take on fifth-place St. Cloud State (10-8, 7-6 NSIC) tonight at 5:30 p.m. in Halenbeck Hall.