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Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University women's basketball team secured their ninth win from home in a staggering 80-54 victory over Upper Iowa University. The Wolves improve to 17-3 overall and 13-3 in the NSIC. The Wolves are now three games ahead of the second place Minot Beavers in the NSIC north division.

The Wolves were without standout senior Alison Kusler due to an injury incurred against the Warriors a night before, however were able to combine for 50 points in the first half of play. NSU was led by freshman Paige Waytashek with 15 points in the game. Waytashek went a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line while shooting 50 percent from the floor. As a team, Northern shot 53.2 percent from the floor in the win and notched three buckets from long range.

Alongside Waytashek, four other Wolves tallied double-digit scores on the night, with 29 points coming from the bench. Rachel Krogman connected for 13 points and pulled down a team high seven rebounds in the match-up. Krogman also continued to show her talents from all areas of the floor garnering four assists, a block and a steal. Juniors Megan Mutchler and Sadie Stotesbery, playing 24 minutes apiece, combined for 22 points and ten rebounds in the victory. Stotesbery added three assists and two blocks to the mix for the Wolves.

Kara Hofschild, a recent spark in the Wolves starting line-up, went 4-6 from the floor on the night, scoring 11 points and notching two assists and one steal. Matching Krogman in assists for the night was Mykenzie Spaulding with four of the teams 17. In the early minutes of half number one, the Wolves went on a 24-2 run, as the scoreboard read 40-10. Northern's 80 points came off the backs of 13 different players in the game.

Northern's bread and butter of solid rebounding and defensive play led to 14 second chance points and 23 points off of 16 Peacock turnovers. As a team, the Wolves out-rebounded the Peacocks 38-31. Northern froze out Upper Iowa leader scorer Whitney Kieffer as she tallied on six in the game. From fast breaks to digging deep in the post, Northern scored 42 points from the paint in the win.

The Wolves will remain at home for next weekend's NSIC match-ups as they take on in-division opponents St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth. Game times are set for 6 p.m. Friday and 5 p.m. Saturday from Wachs Arena.