Pueblo, Colo. – Despite some early foul trouble, the Northern State University women's basketball team came away with a 16 point victory over the host No. 5 Colorado State University Pueblo on Friday evening. NSU defeated the ThunderWolves 75-59, improving to 3-1 overall this season.
Northern out-scored Pueblo in three of the four quarters with a game high 26 points in the second. They led 44-28 at the half, shooting 54.5 percent from the floor in the first 20 minutes. The Wolves held their largest lead of 26 points with 4:09 remaining in regulation.
As a team the Wolves tallied 34 points in the paint, 17 points off the bench, 13 points off of eight turnovers, and 11 points off nine offensive boards. They out-shot the ThunderWolves knocking down 27-of-55 from the floor, 7-of-16 from the arc, and 14-of-18 from the charity stripe.
Miranda Ristau led the team with 16 points, shooting a team second best 70.0 percent from field goal range. She added five rebounds, one assist, and a team leading two blocks.
Jessi Marti was second on the team with 12 points and four assists. The sophomore shot 50.0 percent from the floor, and added three rebounds for the Wolves.
Jill Conrad and
Alexis Tappe rounded out the double figure scorers with 11 and ten points respectively. Conrad shot a team leading 71.4 percent from the floor and notched six rebounds, while Tappe added five rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
Brianna Kusler rounded out the Northern State starters with nine points in the win. She dished out a team leading five assists, and added five rebounds.
Brynn Flakus led the team off the bench with seven points and three rebounds in 11 minutes of play.
Anika Fredrick and
Gabby Laimer tallied four and three points each, while Haley Froelich and
Sara Tvedt notched two and one points apiece. Tvedt matched Conrad with a team leading six rebounds, while adding two assists and one steal.
The Wolves are back in action tomorrow from Pueblo in a neutral site contest beginning at 2 p.m. versus the Westminster Griffons.
