SMSU women down USF to retain 1st place

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Bri Stoltzman scored a game-high 25 points along with 12 rebounds to secure a double-double as the Southwest Minnesota State womens basketball team downed Sioux Falls 68-62 to earn its 12th straight victory.

Stoltzman also scored 21 points in the Mustangs’ win over Augustana on Thursday, earning herself an NSIC Player of the Week selection for the fifth time this year.

In Saturday’s win over Sioux Falls, Natalie Nielsen also contributed heavily with 16 points, two blocks and four rebounds. Audrey Swanson added eight rebounds and two steals. She also didn’t turn the ball over while dishing out four assists, second only to Stoltzman’s five.

SMSU improves to 20-2 (14-2 NSIC) with the win and heads to Romano Gymnasium to take on Minnesota Duluth on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

Mustang men bounce back with win over Cougars

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — After its eight-game win streak came to an end with a loss to Augustana on Thursday, the SMSU mens basketball team redeemed itself with an 88-81 win over Sioux Falls to keep sole possession of first place in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

Sioux Falls senior and Marshall native Jake Puetz joined the Cougars’ 1,000-point club in the win, finishing with 15 points.

In his second game back from injury, Dunwa Omot scored a game-high 23 points on 8 of 12 shooting for the Mustangs. SMSU’s scoring efforts were well-balanced, though, with Aeron Stevens adding another 20 points and Steven Kramer and Jakob Braaten contributing 19 and 18 respectively.

Kramer also grabbed a team-high six rebounds in the win.

SMSU improves to 18-4 (13-3 NSIC) and heads north to take on Minnesota Duluth on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.