Aberdeen, S.D. – After defeating Upper Iowa by a 23-point margin last night, the Northern State University women's basketball team dropped a 65-53 contest against Winona State. With the loss, the Wolves drop to 16-6 overall and 12-6 in the NSIC, while the Warriors improve to 19-5 overall and 14-4 in league play.

NSU opened the game with a 5-0 lead, and closed out the first quarter maintaining a two-point lead over the Warriors. Both teams struggled to score in the next quarter, combining for a total of 19 points. Winona State outshot the Wolves in the first half, going 25-51 from the floor and ending the second quarter with a 29-26 lead.

Northern State bounced back in the third quarter, however were outscored 21-10 in the final ten minutes of action. The loss would count for just the second of the season from home for the Wolves.

As a unit, NSU shot 41.8 percent from field goal range, 20.0 percent from the three-point arc and 50.0 percent from the free throw line, while collecting 27 rebounds, 15 assists and seven steals. The Wolves finished with 18 points in the paint, 13 points off turnovers and six points off the bench.

Tara Roelof of Winona State led all scorers with 18 points, while teammate Jenny Tuttle went 7-13 from the floor for 17 points. Junior Miranda Ristau led the Wolves shooting 60.0 percent from field goal range for a team-high 15 points. The Miranda Ristau and Jill Conrad duo combined for 11 rebounds.

Jill Conrad and Paige Waytashek were the second and third Wolves to score in double-digits, tallying 13 and 10 points respectively. Brianna Kulser and Paige Waytashek each ended the night with career-highs as Kusler nabbed seven assists and Waytashek picked off five steals.

The Wolves will continue their home stretch next weekend, facing Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State for Military Appreciation Night and Senior Night.