#11 Wayne State 67 Minnesota Crookston 56

            Juniors Jordan Spencer and Ashton Yossi combined for 43 points to lead #11 Wayne State College in a 67-56 Northern Sun Conference women's basketball win Friday evening over Minnesota Crookston at Rice Auditorium in Wayne.  The Wildcats remain in first place in the NSIC with a 8-1 league mark, improving to 15-1 on the season, while the visiting Golden Eagles drop to 6-7 and 3-6 in league play.
            The Wildcats trailed for a majority of the first half before putting together a strong run in the final four minutes to take the lead.  Minnesota Crookston built a pair of six point leads and was in front 14-8 with 11:48 to play in the half.  WSC took a 15-14 lead on a Jaylan Spencer layup, but the Golden Eagles scored six straight points to regain the lead at 19-15. 
            UMC held a 21-17 lead with 5:32 to play in the half, but WSC closed with a 13-2 run and took a 30-23 lead at intermission as Jordan Spencer scored six straight Wildcat points to end the half.
            Wayne State took their biggest lead early in the second half at 39-25 with 17:29 to play, but could not close out the stubborn Golden Eagles.  With WSC leading 43-30, Minnesota Crookston went on an 11-2 run and got as close as four at 45-41 following a Katrina Moenkedick layup with 8:47 to play.
            The Wildcats answered the call and went on a 11-2 run to push the lead back to double digits at 55-44 with 3:57 to play and Wayne State sealed the win making 7 of 8 free throws in the final 1:21 to beat Minnesota Crookston 67-56.
            Spencer led Wayne State with her fourth double-double of the season, 22 points and 13 rebounds.  She was 10 for 18 from the field and just 2 of 5 at the foul line.  Yossi contributed 21 points in the win, making 7 of 16 shots and 4 of 5 from the foul stripe. 
            Wayne State finished the game making just 25 of 63 shots for 39.7 percent, including a dismal 4 for 24 behind the 3-point line and 13 of 23 at the free throw stripe.
            Minnesota Crookston's top scorer was sophomore forward Katrina Moenkedick with 22 points while Jaya Perkins also reached double figures with 11.  The Golden Eagles were 23 for 59 from the field (39 percent) and 5 of 13 from the 3-point line.  UMC was just 5 for 7 at the charity stripe.
            Wayne State won the rebounding battle 46-31 thanks to 13 rebounds apiece by Spencer and Ellen Hansen.  For Spencer, she tied a career-high 13 caroms.  Minnesota Crookston's top rebounder was Moenkedick with seven.
            WSC had just 10 turnovers in the game to 12 on UMC.  Yossi had a team-high four assists with Roller adding three.  Alexa Thielman had a game-high five for the Golden Eagles.
            The Wildcats will be at home again Saturday hosting Bemidji State in a Northern Sun Conference contest starting at 4 p.m.