Wayne State 73 Minnesota, Crookston 52
Sophomore Ashley Arlen (Cascade, Iowa) notched her fourth overall and second consecutive double-double with 27 points and a career high 13 rebounds in the Wildcats 73-52 Northern Sun Conference win over Minnesota, Crookston Saturday afternoon at Rice Auditorium in Wayne, America. The win gives Wayne State a 10-3 overall record and a 3-3 record in the NSIC and the loss drops the Golden Eagles to 6-7 overall and 4-3 in the NSIC.
Once again the Wildcats felt right at home at Rice Auditorium, improving to 7-0 this season at home as Wayne State held the lead the entire game. WSC jumped out to an early lead and maintained a double digit lead for a majority of the first half. Wayne State took a 35-14 lead into the halftime. The Wildcats shot 36.1 percent (13-36) from the field in the first stanza.
The Wildcats continued to add to their lead in the second half expanding the lead to a game high 24 points at the 4:09 mark of the second half. Wayne State shot a sizzling 48.3 percent (14-29) from the field in the second half and knocked down eight free throws in the half to defeat the Golden Eagles 73-52.
The Wildcats shot 41.5 percent (27-65) in the ball game. Wayne State shot 27.3 percent (6-22) from the three point line and 65.0 percent (13-20) from the free throw line. WSC edged out the Golden Eagles in rebounding grabbing 46 boards compared to the Golden Eagles 43 boards. Wayne State also committed only nine turnovers, while stealing seven from Minnesota, Crookston.
Arlen led the Wildcats in scoring and rebounds on the afternoon with 27 points and a career high 13 rebounds. Sophomore Clare Duwelius added 18 points and Mara Hjelle added eight points and nine rebounds. Junior Julie Ann Wagner added seven points and four rebounds and Alisha Brown who ranks tenth in the NSIC in assists added five assists on the night.
Minnesota, Crookston was led by Junior Jamie Zelinsky who had 19 points and six rebounds. Freshman Lauren Kessler added eight points and a team high 12 rebounds on the night. Guard Brittani Wiese added seven points and guard Diana Taddy added six points to round out the Golden Eagles leading scorers.
Wayne State will be at home again Sunday afternoon hosting MSU Moorhead in a Northern Sun Conference contest beginning at 2:00 p.m. at Rice Auditorium in Wayne.
