Box Score

WINONA, Minn. – Freshman Maggie Bryant (Sartell, Minn.) scored a game and career-high 16 points in her first career start for the Northern State University Wolves Friday night, but it wasn't enough as the Wolves fell 71-59 to the host Winona State University Warriors in the first Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference game of the new year.

The loss drops NSU to an even 6-6 overall and 2-3 in the conference, while the Warriors improved to 9-3 on the year and 2-3 in league play.

The Wolves also got 11 points and eight rebounds from freshman point guard Emily Becken (Lino Lakes, Minn.) off the bench, but were unable to counter a trio of Warriors in double figures and a solid 55.1 percent shooting effort.  WSU finished the game 8-for-15 from 3-point range, effectively countering an impressive 21-for-24 performance by the Wolves at the free throw line.

The Warriors used a strong first half to take a 34-20 lead at halftime, but watched the Wolves battle back to within five 40-45 on a 3-pointer from junior Lennea Mueller (Custer, S.D.) at the 11:18 mark of the second half.

WSU, however, quickly stretched the lead back out to double digits, and, despite a second push from the Wolves just minutes later, pulled away for the 12-point victory.

The Warriors were led by 15 points by Ana Wurtz, who was 3-for-5 from long range.  Jamie Majerowicz had 14 points to lead an strong inside game, helping the Warriors to a 24-16 edge in points in the paint, while Jenny Steffen added 13 points off the bench.

The Wolves, playing their third game in six days after a pair of non-conference games in Colorado on Sunday and Monday, were just 2-for-11 from 3-point territory and finished the game shooting just 34.6 percent (18 of 52) from the floor.

NSU remains on the road for a second NSIC game on Saturday, traveling to Upper Iowa University for a 6 p.m. matchup.  UIU lost 62-48 at home Friday to the University of Mary and now sits at 5-7 overall and 1-4 in the conference.