Wayne State 73 Southwest Minnesota State 47
The Wayne State College women's basketball used defense to spark the offense in a 73-47 route of Southwest Minnesota State. Wayne State held Southwest Minnesota State to 16.7 percent from the field in the first half and used a 29-6 run in the final 12 minutes of the first half to run away from the Mustangs. The win makes the Wildcats 14-4 overall and 7-4 in the NSIC and the loss drops the Mustangs to 11-7 overall and 5-6 in the NSIC.
Wayne State's defense set the tone early in the ball game holding the Mustangs to only eight points in the first 10 minutes of the first half. The Wildcats used a 29-6 run from the 12:43 of the half to the break. Wayne State held the Mustangs to only 16.7 percent (6 of 36) from the field in the first half. WSC used the defensive pressure to spark the offense as Wayne State scored 15 points off of turnovers in the first stanza. Wayne State's offense got out to a slow start in the half, but WSC shot 42.4 percent (14 of 33) from the field and 40.0 percent (4 of 10) from the three point line to take a 38-14 lead into the break.
The Wildcats continued to put pressure on the Mustangs in the second half. Wayne State never held a lead under 17 in the half. The Wildcats offense continued to cause problems for SMSU as Wayne State shot 44.4 percent (4 of 9) from the three point line and 38.7 percent (12 of 31) from the field. The Wildcats bench added 17 points in 73-47 victory.
Wayne State shot 40.6 percent (26 of 64) from the field on the night. The Wildcats also shot 42.1 percent (8 of 19) from the three point line and 65.0 percent (13 of 20) from the free throw line. Wayne State out rebounded the Mustangs in the ball game grabbing 47 boards to Southwest Minnesota State's 45. Once again the Wildcats defense manage to have double digits steals with 11 on the night.
The Mustangs shot 26.6 percent (17 of 64) from the field in the contest. The Mustangs also shot 31.3 percent (5 of 16) from the three point line and 80.0 percent (8 of 10) from the free throw line. Southwest Minnesota State was out rebounded by the Wildcats but managed to grab 14 offensive rebounds. SMSU also committed 19 turnovers on the night.
Wayne State had four players in double figures on the night. The Wildcats were led by Sophomore Ashley Arlen who had 19 points and 12 rebounds to earn her sixth double-double of the season. Arlen was 5 of 12 from the field and 9 of 11 from the free throw line on the night. Junior Mara Hjelle also recorded her sixth double-double of the season. Hjelle had 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Sophomore Clare Duwelius had 15 points on the night to go along with three steals. Duwelius shot 50.0 percent (6 of 12) from the field and 50.0 percent (3 of 6) from the three point line. Junior Renee Wood had a career night for WSC, Wood tied a career high with 13 points on the night. Wood also had a career high six rebounds and tied a career high with four assists.
The Mustangs had one player in double figures on the night. Center Abby Kenealy had 10 points to go along with four rebounds. Taylor Voss added nine points on the night and also had seven rebounds. Voss shot 50.0 percent (3 of 6) from the three point line. Tori Fink and Laura Kramer each had seven rebounds on the night for SMSU.
Wayne State will hit the road next weekend for Northern Sun Conference games at St. Cloud State Friday night and 20th-ranked Concordia-St. Paul Saturday night with games beginning at 6:00 p.m. each night.
