Wayne State 76 Winona State 61

            Ashley Arlen scored a game-high 21 points and Wayne State remained perfect at home (12-0) with a 76-61 Northern Sun Conference women's basketball win Friday night over Winona State at Rice Auditorium in Wayne.  The Wildcats are now 18-4 overall and 11-4 in the NSIC while Winona State is 14-9 overall and 9-7 in league play.

            The Wildcats jumped out to an early 16-6 lead four minutes into the ball game. Wayne State's lead would continue to climb in the first half as WSC took a 15 point lead (21-6) after a Julie Ann Wagner three pointer at the 14:08 mark of the half.  The Warriors would battle back to trim the lead to six at the break as Wayne State took a 35-49 lead into the dressing room. The Wildcats scored six points on fast breaks in the first half and had eight points off of turnovers in the stanza.

            In the second half the Warriors came out and cut Wayne State's lead to four in the opening minutes. WSC would then build the lead back up to 14 after a fast break layup by Mara Hjelle. WSC then built its highest lead of night 19 points when Renee Wood hit a three pointer at the 9:17 mark of the second half.

            The Warriors would once again battle back going on a 12-0 run from the 9:17 mark of the half to the 5:43 mark of the half. Afton Glander hit a three pointer at the 4:15 mark of the stanza to cut Wayne State's lead to five. But that was as close as the Warriors would get as the Wildcats walked away with a 76-61 win.

            Arlen's 21 points led all scorers for WSC.  The sophomore forward from Cascade, Iowa was 8 of 17 from the field and 3 of 3 at the free throw line.  Junior forward Alyssa Fischbach added 14 points followed by Mara Hjelle with 13.  The Wildcats shot 51 percent from the field, making 26 of 51 shots.  WSC was 10 of 20 from the three point line and 14 of 16 at the free throw stripe.

            For Winona State, Natalie Gigler scored 14 points followed by Michelle McDonald with 12 and Ana Wurtz 11.  The Warriors were 26 of 61 from the field for 42.6 percent, making just 7 of 25 shots from the three point line while sinking 2 of 5 free throws. 

            Both teams had 30 rebounds as Fischbach hauled in nine caroms to lead WSC while Winona State's rebounder was Michelle Tobin with seven. 

            Wayne State will be at home again Saturday afternoon hosting Upper Iowa in a Northern Sun Conference contest starting at 4:00 p.m.