Minot, N.D. – In the NSIC opener, the No. 16 Northern State University Wolves handily defeated Minot State 77-58. The Wolves improve to 5-1 overall and 1-0 in the league notching their fourth double-digit victory of the season.
 
The Wolves were out to a quick start in the first leading 24-13 through the first ten minutes of action. Northern continued their offensive onslaught leading by as much as 23 points in the second. The two teams entered the locker room, with the Wolves up 45-29 at the half. NSU again out-scored Minot in the third quarter (15-10), however the Beavers were able to edge out the Wolves in the fourth 19-17.
 
Northern shot 43.1 percent from the floor, 50.0 percent from the arc, and 75.9 percent from the foul line. They totaled a game leading 22 points in the paint, 28 points off the bench, and 19 second chance points. The Wolves forced 13 Minot State turnovers, which resulted in 16 points. Northern played tough in the paint out-rebounding Minot State 51-34 in the game, including 34 defensive boards. The Wolves totaled 17 assists, eight steals, and six blocks as a team.
 
Miranda Ristau led the team with 18 points, knocking down 8-of-19 from the floor and 2-of-2 from the foul line. The senior added a team second best seven rebounds, while leading the Wolves with three blocks. Jill Conrad and Anika Fredrick followed with 13 and 11 points respectively. The 11 points are a career high for Fredrick who averaged nearly one point per minute of play. She matched Ristau with seven rebounds, and added one assist. Conrad led the team hitting 5-of-8 from field goal range, while adding a team second best three assists.
 
Jessi Marti notched a career high of her own, pulling down ten total rebounds. Marti added eight points, shooting 50.0 percent from the floor, and three assists. Alexis Tappe and Brianna Kusler rounded out the Northern State starters with five points each. Tappe tallied two assists, four rebounds, and a team leading three steals alongside Marti. Kusler led the team dishing out five total assists, while adding two rebounds.
 
Haley Froelich was second on the team with seven points off the bench, followed by Sara Tvedt with six. Tvedt added a team third best six rebounds. Gabby Laimer and Brynn Flakus tallied the final points for the team with two each.
 
The Wolves return to action tomorrow with a 4 p.m. match-up against U-Mary from Bismarck.