Box Score Box Score

ABERDEEN, S.D. - Led by a 16-point, 15-rebound effort from sophomore Rachel Krogman in her return to the court, the Northern State Wolves overcame 17 first-half turnovers and a slow start to the night, outscoring the visiting South Dakota Mines & Tech Hardrockers by a combined tally 18-8 in the final five minutes of each half to take a 61-43 win in the 2012-13 season opener.

Krogman, who sat out the 2011-12 season with an injury, was one of the lone bright spots in an otherwise sluggish first half for both teams.  NSU led just 16-15 with 3:46 left in the half with Krogman scoring six of those 16 points.  She added two more on a pair of free throws with just under two minutes left as part of a 9-2 run by the Wolves to close out the half, taking a 24-17 lead into the break.

The Wolves responded in the second half with freshman Devon Brecke providing a spark off the bench.  Brecke scored 10 of her 14 points on the night in the second half, going 7-for-8 from the free throw line.  Krogman added another eight points and six boards in the half.

SDMT used a scrappy full-court press to keep the defensive pressure on a young NSU squad.  The Hardrockers came out of the half to forge a tie at 27-27 less than five minutes into the period.  SDMT took a brief lead following a three-point play by Katie Strandholm, but an 8-0 run by the Wolves put NSU back in the driver's seat.  The run started with a game-tying layup by Sadie Stotesbery and ended with back-to-back three-pointers from Stotesbery and Brecke - NSU's lone two treys of the night - that put the Wolves up by six.

From there, it was all NSU, which stretched its lead to as many as 21 points before ending with an 18-point victory to start the season out at 1-0.  SDMT falls to 1-1 on the season.

Senior Sarah Hintz had seven rebounds for the Wolves, who had a 52-25 edge on the glass.  Brecke and Stotesbery had five apiece.

The Hardrockers were led by a 12-point, 9-rebound effort by Hillary Hawkins and another 10 points by Alexia Mader.  The duo connected on a combined 5-of-8 three-point attempts.

NSU returns to action tomorrow night, taking on Black Hills State to conclude the opening weekend of play.  BHSU suffered a 91-60 loss to Minnesota State on Friday in Aberdeen.