Hays, Kan. – The Northern State University women's basketball team fell to Pittsburg State in the opening round of the NCAA Central Region Tournament, 53-60. The Wolves end the year 26-7 overall as seniors Rachel Krogman, Sadie Stotesbery, Megan Mutchler, Kara Hofschild, and Sami Smith play the final game of their careers.
 
The two teams battled back and forth in the first half of play, with the largest lead of eight points going to Pittsburg State. Rachel Krogman tied the game at 30 all with under five minutes to play in the first half, however the Wolves were unable to gain the lead heading into halftime. Northern trailed Pittsburg State 33-36 after the first 20 minutes of play.
 
Northern took the lead early in half two with back to back to back Mutchler, Krogman, Brecke layups. The Gorillas answered back going on an 8-0 through the first media timeout. The Wolves brought the score within one on two occasions however were unable to break away.
 
Sadie Stotesbery led the Wolves with 14 points and eight rebounds, followed by Rachel Krogman with 12 points and 14 rebounds for her 20^th double-double of the season. Stotesbery shot 70 percent from the floor adding one assist, one steal, and two blocks. Krogman notched a game leading four assists while going 5-of-12 from field goal range. Megan Mutchler was third on the team with nine points and six rebounds.
 
Paige Waytashek and Devon Brecke tallied five and four points respectively. Seniors Kara Hofschild and Sami Smith notched four and two points of their own, while Hofschild added four rebounds. Lauren Deadrick was the final scorer for the Wolves with three points.
 
Northern out-rebounded their opponents 40-35, and recorded ten points off ten Gorillas turnovers. Defensively, the Wolves held Pitt State leading scorer Jeronimus to a mere nine points and held the team to a 25 percent mark from the three-point line.
 
Needing a comeback in half two, Northern struggled from the floor shooting 29 percent from the floor and 0-of-9 from the three-point line in the half. The Wolves ended the game shooting 36.7 percent from the floor and 61.5 percent from the free-throw line.
 
NSU's 26 win season brought head coach Curt Fredrickson to 773 career wins. Northern captured the North Division title for the second season in a row, and won the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament for the first time in program history.