PITTSBURG, Kan. - Bri Stoltzman and Audrey Swanson each recorded a double-double to help the No. 7-seeded Southwest Minnesota State University women's basketball team to a 77-65 victory over the No. 3-seeded Fort Hays State (Kan.) Tigers inside John Lance Arena on Saturday evening. 

SMSU advances to the NCAA Central Region Championship for the first time since the 2002 season. 

SMSU moves to 28-4 on the season while Fort Hays State ends the year 28-5.  

The Mustangs closed the night shooting 48 percent (29 of 60) from the field including 7 of 19 from beyond the arc. While the Tigers closed the game shooting 38 percent (23 of 61) from the field.  

SMSU was led by Bri Stoltzman, who poured in a game-high 28 points and 12 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season. She also recorded a pair of steals and four assists. Audrey Swanson logged 16 points and 11 rebounds for her 16th double-double of the year, and Peyton Blandin rounded out the top scorers with 11 points and six rebounds. 

Katie Wagner DeGarmo, the back-to-back MIAA Player of the Year, led the Tiger offense with 22 points and nine rebounds. Talexa Weeter followed with 21 points and seven rebounds, while Olivia Hollenbeck rounded out the attack with 17 points. 

The Mustangs came out of the gates swinging, draining five of its first six shot attempts to hold an 11-2 advantage after the first four minutes of play. The Tigers would break up the run by sinking three of its next four attempts to shrink the deficit to seven points, but SMSU would not let up, pushing the lead back to 11 with just over a minute left in the first quarter. FHSU would then outscore SMSU 5-2 to close the quarter down eight points. 

The Tigers used five free throws, a layup, and mid-range jumper over the first three and a half minutes of the second to cut the deficit to five points until Maddie Thorfinnson knocked down a 3-pointer to stop the bleeding. The final 18 points of the half would be almost evenly traded, leading to 44-34 SMSU advantage at the half. 

FHSU began the third quarter on a mission using tough defense to limit the Mustangs to just two field goals through the opening seven minutes of the half while cutting the deficit to two points. SMSU would find some life over the remainder of the quarter to keep a four-point lead heading into the final 10 minutes. 

The start of the fourth saw SMSU become pesky on defense, holding the Tigers to four points while building a 69-56 advantage with only four minutes to play. Offensively, the story of the final frame was Bri Stoltzman, as she poured in 11 of SMSU's 21 fourth-quarter points to drive in the dagger and put the game away. 

The Mustangs will play in the NCAA Central Region Championship on Monday, March 17, against the No. 1 seed and tournament host Pittsburg State, with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m.