Aberdeen, S.D. – The No. 14 Northern State University women's basketball team rolled to their fourth straight NSIC win, defeating Minnesota Crookston 75-50 from Wachs Arena. The Wolves improve to 8-1 overall and 4-0 in the Northern Sun North.
The Wolves started out hot in the first quarter, taking the 27-13 lead. The Golden Eagles brought it within ten late in the second quarter, however that was as close as things would get in the first half. They battled in the third coming within eight of the Wolves mid-way through the quarter however Northern broke things open in the fourth and ran away with the game.
NSU shot 47.8 percent from the floor, 50.0 percent from the arc, and 52.9 percent from the foul line in the win. They out-rebounded Crookston 51-33, with 11 offensive boards resulting in 12 points. The Wolves added a game leading 50 points in the paint and 16 points off turnovers, while notching 21 points off the bench. The women combined for 15 assists, three blocks, and seven steals with 18 players seeing court time.
Miranda Ristau led the team matching her career high of 29 points. The senior added five rebounds, one assist, and one block, while inching herself that much closer to the 1,000 point threshold. She is now just 12 points away from becoming the 32
nd member in Northern State history.
Jill Conrad was second on the team with ten points, shooting 55.6 percent from the floor. Conrad is also on the heels of the 1,000 point club sitting just eight points away herself. She added a team second best six rebounds, as well as a team leading five assists.
Alexis Tappe and
Jessi Marti rounded out the NSU starters with nine and six points respectively. Tappe notched five rebounds, two assists, and three steals, while Marti added six rebounds. Alayna Johnson led the team off the bench with six points, followed by
Gabby Laimer with five.
Anika Fredrick and
Sara Tvedt notched four and three respectively, while Haley Froelich and
Tori Mekash tallied two and one each. Froelich showed her worth on the boards, notching a team second best six in the win.
The Wolves will remain at Wachs Arena next Friday against MSU Moorhead with tip-off scheduled for 6 p.m. between the two teams.
