BOX SCORE

ABERDEEN, S.D. -  The Northern State University women's basketball team put together their best three-point shooting game of the season, and combined that with a balanced team effort in defeating the Bemidji State Beavers 79-65 Friday in front of 3,154 fans at Wachs Arena.

Northern State battled through a high-scoring first half and very hot shooting Bemidji State team that went 7-12 from behind the arc to enter the break down by a 41-39 score.  Both teams shot better than 45 percent in the game, but the Wolves put five players in double-figures for the second-straight game and out-rebounded their opponents 42-24 for enough second-chance points to put the Beavers away down the stretch.

The Wolves were led by the 5-5 three-point shooting effort by Megan Kusler, and the tandem double-doubles from Mikayla Barondeau and Krista Rabenberg, the second one of the year for each athlete.  Barondeau joined Kusler for the team lead with 15 points to go along with 11 rebounds, three assists, five steals, and no turnovers.  Rabenberg put together a night with 11 points, 13 rebounds, and two blocks as well as going 7-11 from the free throw line.  Lennea Mueller added 13 points and a career-high six assists and Emily Becken had 11 points and eight assists, the latter being one shy of tying her career-high.

The Wolves 10 three-pointers made is double their season high and the most a Wolves team has made since they played the University of Mary on February 23, 2008.

The Wolves host the last game of their three-game home stand tomorrow night when the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs invade Wachs Arena for a showdown of two evenly matched teams.  The Bulldogs won a matchup earlier this year 64-60 at the NSIC Holiday Hoops Fest.

Northern State University is an NCAA Division II affiliated school participating in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and is located in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

**GO WOLVES**