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Aberdeen, S.D. - The Northern State University women's basketball team prolonged its season tonight with a 73-45 win over Southwest Minnesota State University. The Wolves improve to 22-5 on the year and will now travel to Sioux Falls for the second round of the NSIC Sanford Health Women's Tournament from the Sanford Pentagon.

The Wolves were led by Senior Alison Kusler who nabbed 19 points in the win, 12 of which came from the arch. Kusler was 70 percent from the floor and helped led the team to a season high 57.1 percentage from three point range. Rachel Krogman added another 13 points in the game, while hitting the glass for eight rebounds. Krogman was 4-6 from field goal range and 5-6 from the free-throw line.

Northern matched its season high of 29 bench points, as 11 different Wolves contributed in the game. Not only did the Wolves match a season high in bench points, they also matched their season high in field goal percentage at 53.2 previous met against Upper Iowa.

Solid contributions across the floor led to 16 SMSU turnovers, resulting in 16 NSU points. The Wolves out-rebounded the Mustangs by 14 in the game and scored nine points off of nine offensive rebounds. Southwest was unable to cut off the Wolves offensive and defensive attack in the paint, as Northern scored 28 points and muscled up for 40 rebounds. Northern's defense held Southwest to a dismal 28.0 percent from the floor and only 16 points in the first half.

The Wolves will take on Augustana College in the second round of the NSIC conference tournament this Saturday from the Sanford Pentagon. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. from Sioux Falls. Northern fell to the Vikings just two weeks ago on the road with a score of 62-79.