Box Score Box Score
Coach Fredrickson Post-Game Comments

ABERDEEN, S.D. - Led by strong second-half efforts by junior Alison Kusler and sophomore Megan Mutchler, the Northern State women's basketball program held off a previously undefeated St. Cloud State squad 62-51 Friday night in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action.

Kulser and Mutchler each scored 11 points in the second stanza, both hitting key buckets in the late going to help hold off the Huskies, who crept to within three with less than two minutes to go before NSU pulled away.

The win pushes NSU to 6-2 overall and 2-2 in the league.  SCSU suffered its first loss of the season and slipped to 7-1 overall and 3-1 in the loop.

Northern State led from the start, building up a 9-point lead by the midway point of the half.  That's the margin the game stayed at through much of the second stanza.  NSU led by 13 with 14:10 to go before the Huskies started to slowly chip away at the NSU lead. 

SCSU cut it to eight with just under seven minutes to play.  Kusler drilled a big three-pointer to push the lead back out to double digits, but the Huskies put together a 7-2 run to make it a three-possession game with 4:06 to go.  SCSU then capitalized on three key NSU turnovers with three minutes and under to play, turning all three into points at the other end, eventually cutting NSU's lead down to just three points at 54-51.  

Mutchler then found herself wide open under the basket for a big bucket and some breathing room and the Wolves were a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the final 48 seconds to seal off the win.

Kusler ended her night with a game-best 16 points, while Mutchler added 15.  Both players had eight rebounds for the Wolves, who held a big 46-26 edge in rebounding.  Sarah Hintz turned in a big first half for the Wolves and finished with 14 points and five boards.  Sophomore Rachel Krogman added nine points and seven rebounds for NSU.

SCSU was led by a 13-point, 6-rebound effort by Jessica Benson, despite battling foul trouble early.  Sam Price, Nicole Anderson and Amanda Wagner each finished with eight points, while Lexy Peterman had nine points off the bench.

NSU remains at home to finish out the 2012 calendar year, taking on Minnesota-Duluth tomorrow night.  Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. at Wachs Arena.