BOX SCORE

2008 WOMEN'S NSIC TOURNAMENT BRACKETS

BISMARCK, N.D. - The Northern State women's basketball team finished the regular season with one of their best games of the year, upsetting the University of Mary on the road, 87-77.  The Wolves came out with scorching hot shooting to claim the #7 seed in the NSIC standings, shooting a season high 62.5% from the field in the big win.  The Wolves will be on the road for the first round of the NSIC Tournament next Saturday, playing at No. 2 Wayne State at 3:00 p.m.

Noelle Hall led the Wolves with 21 points in a big second half effort and pulled down 11 rebounds. Ryanne Brockhaus was one point shy of tying her career high with 19 points, shooting a perfect 4-of-4 from the three point line and dishing out seven assists. The Marauders shot well from the field (47.5%), but could not keep up with NSU's pace.  The Wolves improve to 12-15 on the season and 8-10 in NSIC play while Marauders fall to 16-10 on the year and 11-7 in conference play, taking third place in the regular season.

With tournament seeding on the line for both teams, the Wolves came out ready to play. They opened the game with a dime from Jaclyn Arns to Kimberly Lewis to score the first basket of the game. Despite a U-Mary full court press and a tenacious 2-3 zone, the Wolves were on fire. They led 15-7 on an Arns jumper, but the Marauders fought back. With a jumper by Ashley Fridley, they took their first lead of the half 25-22 at the 7:35 mark. The Marauders would take their biggest lead of the game, 31-23, on another jumper by Fridley with 5:30 left in the half. 

A Brockhaus three-pointer would bring the Wolves to within three as they clawed their way back. They tied the game up at the 2:49 mark and would go on a 7-3 run to finish the half to go up by four, 38-34 at the midway mark. The Wolves shot a hot 54% from the field in the first half and 55% from the three-point line, going 6-of-11 behind the arc. The Marauders shot 39% in the first half making 12-of-31 shots they put up.

Senior center Noelle Hall was held to only three points in the first half but came out of the locker room with the first basket of the second half to put the Wolves up by six in the first minute of play. The Marauders came out of the locker room with an extra hop in their step and really picked of their defensive pressure. They regained the lead on a Anna Skala jumper to go up by one with 16:27 left in the game. A Hall jumper at 11:23 marked the third and final lead change in the half.  

The Marauders got as close as four on a Kristen Bear jumper with 4:10 remaining, however, the Wolves' ability to take care of the ball down the stretch and their hot shooting led them to the upset win over #3 Mary. The Wolves captured the number 7 seed for the tournament in the 87-77 win, turning the ball over just 11 times, including only three in the second half. The Marauders finished the game shooting 47.5% from the field, and 46.7% from behind the arc.

Noelle Hall marked a double double scoring 21 points, 18 in the second half, and pulling down 11 rebounds. Ryanne Brockhaus had a big game for the Wolves, putting in 19 points and dishing out 7 assists. Brockhaus shot 5-of-6 from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 from the three point line. Jacyln Arns was also in double figures with 11 points, shooting 4-of-9 from the field and dishing five assists. The Wolves had 23 assists on the night and out-rebounded the Marauders 28-25.

Kayla Rogers was one of five players in double figures for the University of Mary. She led her team with 16 points shooting 6-of-9 from the field. Anna Skala finished the game with 14 points, ten coming in the second half of play.  U-Mary had just seven turnovers in the game.