Aberdeen, S.D. - The Northern State University women's basketball team closed out the weekend with a sweep, defeating Minnesota-Duluth 73-48. With the 25-point victory, the Wolves improve to 13-5 overall and 9-5 in the NSIC, while the Bulldogs drop to 11-7 overall and 9-5 in conference action.

NSU held the lead from the get-go, outscoring Minnesota-Duluth 20-12 in the first quarter. The Wolves extended the scoring margin to 12 points and headed into the half with the 34-22 advantage.

Both teams returned in the third quarter having their largest scoring quarters of the contest as Northern State added 24 and UMD tallied an additional 15 points. NSU gained their largest lead of 29 with 2:48 remaining in the game.

As a unit, the Wolves shot a season-best 58.7 percent from the field goal range, 45.5 percent from the arc and 60.9 percent from the foul line, compared to 33.3, 41.2 and 75.0 percent from the Bulldogs. NSU recorded 34 points in the paint 21 points off of turnovers, 10 second chance points and 17 points off the bench.

Minnesota Duluth lifted 11 steals and forced 20 turnovers, however the Wolves outrebounded the Bulldogs 43 to 21.

Miranda Ristau led the 16 total NSU athletes to hit the court. The junior notched 19 points, 11 rebounds and four assists, hitting 8-of-11 shots from the floor and 3-of-4 from the free throw line. Freshman Brianna Kusler made her second start of the season and matched her career-high of 15 points.

Jill Conrad and Gabby Laimer were the final two Wolves to score in double-digits on the night, nabbing 11 points a piece. Brianna Kusler and Miranda Ristau aided the team with four assists each.

The Wolves will hit the road next weekend to face Sioux Falls at 6 p.m. on Friday and Southwest Minnesota State at 4 p.m. on Saturday.