SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - #21 Minnesota State (25-5) defeated the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs (19-12) in the semifinal round of the NSIC Tournament, 88-72. Joey Batt scored 26 points to lead the team and Destinee Bursch finished with 22 points and six assists.

The Mavericks wasted no time getting on the board, with Batt finding Emily Russo cutting to the hoop for a layup five seconds into the game. Batt would then score five straight points, hitting on a fast break layup and a three-pointer. The Mustangs responded with a three from Bri Stoltzman to make the score 7-3. Minnesota State's press would prove effective, forcing three SMSU turnovers and going on a quick 6-0 run to give the Mavericks a 10-point lead with 7:06 in the first quarter. Sam Wall drained a three-pointer on the next possession, but the Mavericks would go on another 6-0 run over the next minute to put themselves up 19-6.

The Mustangs went on a 9-2 run over the following two and a half minutes to cut the MSU lead to six. Wall hit two three-pointers in that stretch. After both teams made a pair of free throws, Bursch made a two-point jumper. A free throw from Natalie Bremer would put the Mavericks back up by double digits, 29-19. Southwest Minnesota State scored five-straight, with Wall hitting her fourth three of the game and Peyton Blandin making a tough layup inside. Batt would make a layup as time expired to give MSU a 34-26 lead after one quarter of play.

Southwest Minnesota State brought the Maverick lead to within four to start the quarter, with a pair of jumpers from Stoltzman and Wall making the score 34-30, Minnesota State. Batt would seal her defender, allowing for an easy look at the rim, ending the scoreless streak for MSU. The Mustangs would respond to the layup with a 7-0 run, taking the lead on a pair of free throws from Madison Gehloff. Minnesota State's Ava Stier made a pair of shots to give the Mavericks the lead back, going up 40-37 on her second jumper.

Both teams would exchange baskets back and forth. After Bursch made a pair of free throws, Stoltzman made a deep step-back three to cut the Minnesota State lead to two with 0:35 left in the half. The Mavericks went into the locker room with a 48-46 lead after 20 minutes.

The Mavericks shot 51% from the field in the first half. The team made just one of its seven three-point attempts and made 7-10 from the charity stripe. MSU forced 15 Mustang turnovers in the first half, ending the half with 11 steals and 15 points scored off turnovers. The Mavericks also had bench players score 14 points in the first half.

Bursch led MSU with 14 points and three steals in the first half. Batt had 12 points in the first half, along with two assists. Stier had nine points and three rebounds in the first two quarters. Hannah Herzig had four steals for Minnesota State in the first half.

The Mustangs had three players with 10+ points in the first half; Wall led SMSU with 14 points, shooting 80% from three in the first. Stoltzman and Gehloff had 12 and 11 points, respectively. As a team, Southwest Minnesota State shot a 56% field goal percentage in the first half, making 7-16 from beyond the arc and making 11-12 free throws. The Mustangs outrebounded the Mavericks in the first half, 19-12.

Bursch opened scoring in the second half with a layup on the Mavericks' first possession. Each team made a couple of free throws, then Batt took a loose ball on defense to the house, scoring a fast break layup to put Minnesota State up 55-48. A steal by Emily Herzberg and a fast break score from Bremer would cap off a 10-0 run for Minnesota State, putting the team up 60-48 over SMSU. A corner three from Gehloff off the inbound would end the Maverick run and cut the lead to nine for the Mustangs. Another three from Gehloff would cut the Minnesota State lead to six, 62-56. Another fastbreak layup for Batt put the Mavericks up by nine with 2:12 left in the third. The Mustangs went on a little 5-0 run, but Herzig hit a layup with one second left on the clock. The quarter ended, MSU up 67-61.

Four free throws for Bursch and Bremer opened the scoring in the fourth quarter. After a pair of free throws for SMSU, the Mavericks went on a quick 6-0 run, with Batt driving in the lane for a layup and Herzberg nailing her first three of the game. Stoltzman hit a three from the wing to cut the MSU lead to 77-66. Another three-pointer for the Mustangs dropped, making the score 81-69, Mavericks.

The three-point barrage continued for the Mustangs, with Stoltzman hitting another shot from behind the arc. But Batt would go on a 6-0 run of her own, making two layups and a jumper to put MSU up 88-72. The game clock wound down and Minnesota State would advance to the NSIC Tournament Championship.

The Mavericks shot just under 48% from the field (31-65 FG) against the Mustangs, making two threes and making 75% of their free throws (24-32 FT). Minnesota State finished with 16 steals, forcing 25 turnovers and scoring 27 points off those turnovers. MSU ended with 19 of its points from bench players, scored 56 points in the paint and 20 points from the fast break.

Batt ended with 26 points to lead Minnesota State. She shot 12-18 from the field, grabbed two boards, dished out two assists and ended with one steal. Bursch had 22 points and six assists for the Mavericks. She also had three steals. Bremer finished with 11 points, four rebounds, a block and two steals. Stier had nine points and seven rebounds against the Mustangs. Herzig had eight points, two rebounds, three assists and a team-high six steals.

The Mustangs finished the game shooting just under 40% (21-53 FG). The team shot 34% from three (12-35 3FG) and made 90% of its free throws (18-20 FT). SMSU outrebounded the Mavericks, 36-33 in the game. Stoltzman led the team with 26 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and five steals.

Minnesota State will play the winner of the other semifinal matchup between UMary and Minnesota Duluth. That game will be played on Tuesday, March 5 at 7:00 p.m. at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls. The Mavericks made the NSIC Championship last season, falling to Minnesota Duluth in the final, 80-74.