Box Score Box Score

ABERDEEN, S.D. - After giving the visiting Vikings a 16 point head start that would stretch to 18-1, the Northern State (6-3, 2-2 NSIC) women's basketball team fought back, with an Alison Kusler career night, to within six at the half before taking the 61-53 victory over Augustana College (6-2, 3-1 NSIC).

The Wolves first got on the scoreboard with 11:41 remaining in the first half, on an Emily Becken free throw when she made one of two. That gave the Vikings a 16-1 lead over the hosts.

In the first 8:19 of the first half, the Wolves committed six turnovers and had three of their shots blocked.

When the Wolves made their first field goal at the 9:30 mark in the first half, Alison Kusler had the start of a career night by draining a three point basket off the assist of Barondeau.

The Vikings would last hold their largest lead of the game of 15 points with 5:26 remaining in the first period. The Wolves would roll with a 14-5 run to end the half, culminating on an Emily Becken trey from long distance.

The story of the first half was the early lead the Vikings jumped out to, which was aided with 15 points off turnovers.

As the second half got underway, the Wolves scored on a Jenna Higgins layup to cut the lead to just four.

However the jubilation would not last long as the Vikings would reel off the the next five points for the 37-28 lead with 18:22 remaining.

The momentum in the game would swing drastically in favor of the Wolves from here on out. A 7-0 run consisting of a Higgins layup Kusler three and Sarah Hintz layup would tie the game for the Wolves, the first such time since the 0-0 opening tip.

Augustana would make a three-point basket from Faith Tinklenberg and a layup from Lydia Nelson to drive the lead up 42-37.

The Wolves answered back with the conventional three point play from Becken and would tie the game with a steal from Kusler and jumper from Becken.

The Wolves would take their first lead of the game with 9:48 remaining on a Hintz made free throw. Barondeau would strengthen the lead with a jump shot.

Not to be outdone, the Vikings would have another fight in them to tie the game at 45 apiece with 7:54 remaining.

Hintz would have her final layup of the evening to break the tie in which the Wolves would use to pull away from the Vikings.

Kusler used a made layup and Higgins had a jumpshot from the paint to exted the Wolves lead to six, which would prove insurmountable for the Vikings to overcome.

The lead would not be cut below five points again, which came on a Molly Hayes layup with 31 seconds remaining in the game.

The Wolves would make their free throws down the stretch as the Vikings were forced to foul to keep the clock ticking as slow as possible.

The final score would show the unthinkable, after the 18-1 lead, of a Wolves victory at 61-53.

Kusler would have a game high 21 points on 6-9 shooting while hauling in five rebounds for the Wolves. Becken had 12 points for the Wolves while Barondeau would have a double-double in the 11 point-10 rebound effort. Higgins would be the final Wolves player in double figures with 10 points.

The Vikings would place two players with double figures as Faith Tinklenberg would lead with 15 and Molly Hayes would follow with 13.

The Wolves shot 42.9 percent in the game, holding the Vikings to 34.5 percent. The Wolves would also win the battle of the boards hauling in 37 rebounds, compared to 30 of the Vikings.

The Wolves return to the hardwood on December 16 as they travel to Bemidji, Minnesota for the final roadtrip before the new year. The game against Bemidji State is scheduled to tip-off at 6 p.m.