BOX SCORE

 

ABERDEEN, S.D. - Tough defense by the Northern State women's basketball team resulted in a big win for the Wolves.  They topped Wayne State 61-56 on Friday night at Wachs Arena to improve to 9-12 on the year and 5-7 in the NSIC.  The Wildcats entered the game at second place in the NSIC and now fall to 15-6 overall and 8-4 in league play.  Northern hosts Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday evening.

In a low-scoring first half, the Wildcats were kept to just 27.6% shooting.  Northern took the lead in the fourth minute of the game and held it until the final buzzer sounded to gain the important league victory.  The first sizeable lead came around the 12 minute mark as Amanda Glenz scored the final points in a 12-2 run that put the Wolves up 16-7.  The Wildcats got back to within two points, but Jaclyn Arns kept her scoring spree running to put her team back up.  The Wolves shot 50.0% from the field in the half, and led 28-20 at the intermission.

Northern dominated the first 16 minutes of the second half.  They rebounded well and led by as many as 14 points.  The Wildcats attempted a comeback late in the game.  They applied full court pressure, forcing a number of turnovers and gaining some easy layups.  Various players chipped in to create a 13-4 run that narrowed the score to 54-50 in favor of the Wolves.  With just a minute remaining and a three point lead, Northern hit the boards on Wildcat misses and also forced turnovers when needed to secure the win.

Arns was the top offensive player for Northern, hitting 6-of-10 shots for 17 points.  She also had five rebounds.  Ryanne Brockhaus had 11 points, three rebounds and four assists, while Noelle Hall finished with ten points and nine rebounds.  Seniors Kimberly Lewis and Amanda Glenz were healthy enough to return to the lineup for the first time in weeks and combined for 13 points and seven rebounds.  NSU shot 43.2% from the field and out-rebounded WSC 37-35.

Laquisha Cook was the only Wayne State player to score in double figures, finishing with 14 points.  Teresa Case added nine points, while Kylee McGill had eight points and nine rebounds.  The Wildcats shot 34.4% from the field and a sluggish 18.2% from three-point range (4-22).