Minnesota Duluth 54 Wayne State 51

            Minnesota Duluth rallied from a nine-point deficit with just over eight minutes to play to down cold-shooting Wayne State 54-51 in Northern Sun Conference women's basketball played Saturday afternoon in Duluth, Minnesota.  The host Bulldogs move to 8-4 overall and 3-2 in the NSIC with the win while WSC dropped to 9-2 overall and 2-2 in league play.

            Both teams struggled shooting and hanging onto the basketball as WSC hit just five field goals in the first half, but trailed by only one point at halftime (29-28) as the 'Cats were fouled by UMD 15 times in the first half and made 18 of 21 free throws in the first half to keep the game close. 

            Midway through the second half, WSC went on a 8-1 run and took their biggest lead of the game, nine points, at 43-34 with 8:40 left following a layup by Alyssa Fischbach.  UMD responded with a run of their own, scoring the next nine points, and tied the score at 43-43 on a three pointer by Lindsay Miller with 5:59 to play.  WSC held a 51-49 lead with just under one minute to play after Ali Schwartzwald made one of two free throws, but UMD got a three point play from Kelsey Hewitt to take a 52-51 lead with 30 seconds left and then following a WSC turnover the Wildcats had to foul and UMD's Shelly Stemper made two free throws with 13 seconds remaining to take a 54-51 lead.  WSC set up one final play to tie the game and a three pointer by Clare Duwelius was off the side of the rim as Minnesota Duluth escaped with a 54-51 win over the Wildcats.

            For Wayne State, Ashley Arlen and Mara Hjelle scored 13 points apiece.  The Wildcats shot a season-low 27.9 percent from the field, making just 12 of 43 shots overall and just 1 of 8 from the three point line.  WSC stayed in the game by sinking 26 of 32 free throws (81.3%). 

            Jheri Booker, the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year, led Minnesota Duluth in scoring with 17 points, 13 coming in the first half.  Lindsay Miller also reached double figures for the Bulldogs with 15 points.  UMD was 17 of 56 from the field for 30.4 percent, 5 of 15 from the three point line and 15 of 22 at the charity stripe.

            WSC won the rebounding battle over Minnesota Duluth 46-32 with Hjelle grabbing nine boards to lead the 'Cats followed by Hjelle with eight.  Kelsey Hewitt was the top rebounder for Duluth with six.  WSC had a season-high 28 turnovers in the game while Duluth committed 22 turnovers.

            Wayne State will be in action again Sunday afternoon for a 2:00 p.m. contest at Bemidji State.