St. Cloud Minn. – The #22 Northern State University Wolves fell short against St. Cloud State University, 57-61, on Friday night. The Wolves drop to 15-4 overall and 10-3 in NSIC play, after their second loss in a row.
The game was tied at six in the first quarter before the Wolves went on an 11-2 run, in the final five minutes of the quarter, taking the 17-8 lead. NSU extended their lead to 11 early in the second, before SCSU tied it up at 21 with 3:26 left in the first half. Northern State took a 25-24 lead heading into the intermission. The Wolves out-scored the Huskies in the third quarter 21-16, to take a 6-point advantage heading into the ten minutes of regulation. NSU was out-scored in the fourth quarter 21-11, as they were unable to get things going and take care of the ball on offense.
The Wolves shot 40.0 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from the 3-point line, while knocking down 23-of-27 from the free-throw line. They out-rebounded the Huskies 37-28 in the match-up. Defensively, the Wolves held the Huskies, who shot 37.9 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from behind the arc. NSU had a game high 13 assists on 22 field goals, and notched 24 points in the paint.
Miranda Ristau led the Wolves with 16 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and two blocks.
Jessi Marti and
Jill Conrad were also in double figures with 14 and ten points respectively. Marti also added eight rebounds, three assists, and one steal, while Conrad recorded four rebounds and one steal to go along with her ten points.
Brianna Kusler had seven points, four assists, three rebounds, one block, and one steal in the loss.
Alexis Tappe tallied four points, seven rebounds, and two assists for the Wolves, while
Anika Fredrick,
Haley Froelich, and
Tori Mekash all notched two points off the bench.
Brynn Flakus recorded two rebounds,
Alayna Johnson had one rebound, and
Sara Tvedt had one block to finish the stat line for the Wolves.
The Wolves will return to action Saturday against Minnesota Duluth. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. against the Bulldogs.
