January 2, 2009

Minnesota Duluth 63 Wayne State 54

Jheri Booker scored 18 of her game-high 27 points in the first half to lift Minnesota Duluth to a 63-54 win over Wayne State on Friday evening in Wayne.  Minnesota Duluth improved to 6-6 overall and 3-2 in the NSIC with the win while Wayne State dropped to 5-6 overall and 2-2 in the NSIC with the loss.

            Wayne State led only once in the game (5-4).  The Bulldogs hit 16 of 31 shots in the first half and took a 34-21 lead into the halftime break.  Minnesota Duluth scored 16 points in the paint and 10 points off of Wildcat turnovers in the opening half of play.  WSC made just 8 of 30 shots in the first half for 26.7 percent.  Wayne State was unable to rally as UMD led by as many as 17 points in the second half and held on for the 63-54 win.

            Minnesota Duluth hit 27 of 61 shots in the game for 44.3 percent.  The Bulldogs went 0 for 7 from behind the three point line and 9 of 12 from the free throw line.  WSC struggled offensively hitting just 18 of 62 shots in the game for 29 percent.  The 'Cats hit 6 of 23 from behind the three point line and went 12 of 15 from the free throw line.  The Bulldogs held a 43-38 rebounding advantage in the game.  Both teams had 18 turnovers.

            Clare Duwelius scored 18 points off the bench to lead Wayne State offensively.  Laquisha Cook added 17 and a team-high six rebounds.  Jheri Booker scored a game-high 27 points for Minnesota Duluth.  Kelsey Hewitt also reached double figures with 14 points while Monica Mayry grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds for the Bulldogs. 

                         Wayne State will be at home again tomorrow (Saturday) evening when the Wildcats host Bemidji State in a Northern Sun Conference tilt starting at 6:00 p.m.