#8 Wayne State 92 Minnesota, Crookston 64
#8 Wayne State College scored a season-high 92 points as the Wildcats cruised to their 25th straight win at Rice Auditorium Friday evening, rolling over Minnesota, Crookston 92-64 in Northern Sun Conference women's basketball played in Wayne, Nebraska. The Wildcats improve to 23-2 overall and 20-1 in the NSIC while the visiting Golden Eagles sport records of 13-12 overall and 10-11 in league play following the loss.
The game was close early as WSC and UMC exchanged the lead seven times with five ties. But a big run by Wayne State in the final five minutes of the first half gave the Wildcats a 44-33 halftime lead and Wayne State never looked back in the game. WSC jumped out to an early 13-7 lead with 14:09 to play in the half on a Mara Hjelle jumper. But Minnesota, Crookston went on a 10-2 run and took a 17-15 lead at the 9:35 mark following a Jamie Zelinsky basket.
Later in the half with Minnesota, Crookston leading 24-23, WSC scored 13 straight points in a span of 2:58 to take a 36-24 lead on a Julie Ann Wagner three pointer for the Wildcats' biggest lead of the half. WSC finished the half leading 44-33.
WSC started the second half strong and never let the Golden Eagles get closer than 10 points the rest of the night. After Minnesota, Crookston got within 11 points at 49-38 with 16:43 to go in the game, WSC put the game out of reach with a 22-2 run, taking a 71-40 lead on a layup by Ali Schwartzwald with 12:55 remaining in the game. WSC reserves played out the rest of the contest as the Wildcats posted a season-high scoring total in the 92-64 win.
Five players scored in double figures for Wayne State led by Mara Hjelle with 19 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Clare Duwelius added 13 points with Alisha Brown scoring 11. Julie Ann Wagner and Ashley Arlen contributed 10 points apiece as the Wildcats shot 50 percent from the field in the game, making 34 of 68 shots. The 'Cats were 9 of 18 from the three point line and 15 of 23 at the charity stripe.
For Minnesota, Crookston, Jamie Zelinsky scored 18 points with Tori Joransen accounting for 14. The Golden Eagles made 26 of 63 shots from the floor for 41.3 percent and hit 4 of 14 from three point range while going 8 of 10 at the free throw line.
Minnesota, Crookston outrebounded WSC 39-36 with Laurie Tyson grabbing seven boards for the Golden Eagles while Wayne State's top rebounder was Mara Hjelle with eight. The 'Cats forced UMC into 19 turnovers as Ali Schwartzwald and Clare Duwelius each recorded five steals while WSC had just seven turnovers in the contest.
Wayne State will conclude the regular season Saturday at 4:00 p.m. as the Wildcats host MSU Moorhead on Senior Day at Rice Auditorium in Wayne.
