BOX SCORE

WAYNE, Neb. – The Northern State University women's basketball team dropped their NSIC opener Friday, losing 64-42 to Wayne State College at Rice Auditorium in Wayne, Neb.

The loss lowers the Wolves' season record to 3-3 overall, and opens up their Northern Sun record at 0-1.  The Wolves opened up their conference record at 0-1 a season ago, losing to the same Wildcats in their NSIC opener in Aberdeen.

The Wolves started off the game with a 7-0 run through the first 3:11 of the game and increased the lead to 12-2 with 13:06 remaining in the first half to grab an early lead.  The Wildcats then went on a 20-3 run of their own to give them a seven point advantage 22-15 with 2:12 remaining in the first half.

The home squad would head into halftime with a 25-19 advantage.  Neither team shot well in the first half with the Wolves only going 7-28 (25%) in the first stanza and the Wildcats going 6-23 (26.1%).  The Wildcats went 11-12 from the free throw line in the first half, compared to just 3-5 for the Wolves, and the home team also held a 23-16 advantage in rebounds at recess.

The lead that the Wildcats built during the first half would not be overcome by the Wolves with the Wildcats increasing their lead continually in the second half to bring the final score to 64-42. 

Sophomore and reigning NSIC Player of the Week Mikayla Barondea led the Wolves with 12 points on 5-13 shooting from the floor.  She also led the squad with eight rebounds and tied for the team lead with four assists in 35 minutes of action.

Fellow sophomore Emily Becken followed her with seven points on 2-6 shooting.

The Wolves will look to bounce back tomorrow night when they travel to Sioux Falls, S.D. to battle with in-state rival Augustana College.  The game is scheduled for a 5:00 p.m. tip-off at the Elmen Center and will be broadcast on MidContenent Cable channel 23 for those fans that can't make the game.

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**