WAYNE, Neb. - Northern State guard Jaclyn Arns opened her senior season by leading the Wolves with a career high 17 points in a 54-49 win over the Colorado School of Mines (0-1) Friday evening at the Wildcat Invite.  The Wolves went on a 13-0 run in the final minutes of the game to go up 1-0 on the season.  They will play Colorado Christian at 4:00 p.m. tomorrow in Wayne, Neb.

The Wolves were hot from the field in the first half, connecting on 10-of-18 shots for 55.6 percent shooting.  The Orediggers stuck with the Wolves, however, and kept the score close throughout the half.  The lead went back and forth between the teams until a layup by Arns (Sr., St. Michael, Minn.) gave Northern a 24-22 lead with 4:45 left to play.  The Wolves stretched their advantage out to 29-24 at the half.

The Orediggers took back the lead just minutes into the second half, receiving key buckets from Stevie Hagemeister.  The lead flip-flopped for the next few minutes until the School of Mines went on a 9-2 streak to take a 49-41 lead with just over six minutes to play.  

The Wolves responded by picking up the defensive pressure and forcing several CSM turnovers while also connecting on shots from the field. They kept the Orediggers scoreless for the remainder of the game and used rebounding on both ends of the court to contribute to their comeback.  Arns hit her third three-pointer of the evening to bring the score to 48-49 in favor of the Orediggers and Megan Kusler (So., Aberdeen, S.D.) followed up by first tying the game and then giving the Wolves the final lead from the charity stripe at the 3:25 mark.  The Wolves finished the game with a 13-0 run to win the season opener 54-49.

Arns hit 7-of-13 shots from the field, including 3-of-6 three-point shots, on her way to a team high 17 points.  She also collected four steals against the Orediggers.  Noelle Hall (Sr., Altura, Minn.) put a double-double in the books with 13 points and ten rebounds.  She also swatted three shots.  Also contributing in the game were Kusler, Ryanne Brockhaus (Sr., Prior Lake, Minn.), and Jessica Deinert (Jr., Mt. Vernon, S.D.) with six points each.

The Wolves finished the game shooting 41.7 percent from the field.  They won the rebounding game with 38 boards to CSM's 26.  Northern showed good control of the ball, turning it over just twice in the second half and 11 total times in the game.

The Colorado School of Mines shot 36.7 percent in their first showing of the year.  They kept the game close by connecting on nine shots from beyond the arc, but the rebounding deficit eventually did them in.  Hagemeister had five three-pointers on her way to 17 points.  Brecca Gaffney had 13 points.