marshall, minn. - concordia (6-4, 3-1 nsic) unbeaten start to the nsic season ended tonight falling to the southwest minnesota state mustangs (3-6, 2-3 nsic) 60-55. rachel hansen (eagan, minn.) led the way with 13 points and was one of four players in double figures on saturday night. box score

erica gress (apple valley, minn.) had 12 points off the bench leading all bench scorers, she missed a double-double by just one rebound. carissa wolyniec (minneapolis, minn.) had 11 points and anika whiting (ashland, wis.) had ten points.

the mustangs came ready to play in the first half hitting a three pointer to start the scoring and kept the lead the rest of the half. The lead was as large as 11 with over eight minutes left in the half. Concordia cut that lead to six with 6:20 left in the half and then again with 2:36 left as wolyniec hit a big three pointer.

southwest minnesota state continued to keep the golden bears at bay connecting on shots every time cu attempted to climb back in the first half. The mustangs took a seven point lead into halftime. Wolyniec had nine points to lead cu at the half.

concordia closed the gap to just two five minutes into the second half when tori lythjohan (cedarburg, wis.) hit a three pointer making the score 35-33. Gress tied the game at 35 with 14:13 left and then hansen gave cu their first lead of the game with a layup and free throw with 13:26 left.

a three pointer from the mustangs gave smsu the lead back at 42-40 before whiting tied it right back up with 11:07 left. The two teams traded baskets for a bit before smsu got some breathing room going up four with just over six minutes left.

hansen got cu within two with 3:29 left in the second half but four straight points by the mustangs put them up six with just over two minutes left. Concordia closed the gap to four but that was as close as they got falling 60-55.

next saturday the golden bears will play their last game prior to the christmas break as they host st. Cloud state at 2:00 p.m. Inside the gangelhoff center.