Box Score Game Stats
BISMARCK, N.D. – Emily Becken tied a career high with 27 points as the Wolves made two comebacks from double-digit deficits but were not enough as the Mary Marauders (17-8, 14-7 NSIC) defeated Northern State (15-13, 10-12 NSIC) 78-73 in the final regular season Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference game.
Mary jumped out to an early lead over the Wolves building to ten points with exactly ten minutes left on the clock.
After the head start, the Wolves, led by the senior Becken, came storming back. Becken hit a three-point basket to jump start the Wolves run.
Alison Kusler would tie the game at 33-33 with 1:50 on the clock as the Wolves took a 36-35 lead into the intermission break.
A physical second half turned into a thriller for the fans in attendance. Combined the two teams had 27 fouls including three players who fouled out.
Mary used a mini 9-0 run to build another ten point lead against the Wolves with 5:37 remaining in the contest, with center Linda Murray getting six points off lay ups and former Northern guard Kayla Schmidt hitting a three point basket.
The following three minutes saw the Wolves chip away at the lead, pulling within two at 70-68 with 2:14 remaining as Becken hit a trey from the corner.
That margin is the closest the Wolves would be able to fight back as Mary would either make their free throws or hit their shots in the final minute.
Becken recorded 27 points for the Wolves as
Sarah Hintz hit a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Mikayla Barondeau had 9 points and 11 rebounds as
Alison Kusler secured 11 rebounds along with her eight points.
The Wolves secured 49 rebounds, 18 on the offensive end, as the Wolves shot 36.5 percent. Mary shot 42.4 percent from the field while securing 46 rebounds, 17 of which on the offensive end.
The Wolves, the eighth seed, will now travel to Wayne, Nebraska for a 7:00 p.m. match-up against the NSIC conference champions and number one seed Wayne State in the first round of the Sanford/NSIC Conference Tournament on Wednesday February 29.
