#11 Wayne State 87 Bemidji State 41

            Wayne State's bench scored 56 points, highlighted by a career-high 24 points from junior forward Jaylan Spencer, to lead the #11 Wildcats in a 87-41 Northern Sun Conference women's basketball win Saturday evening over Bemidji State at Rice Auditorium in Wayne.  The Wildcats improve to 16-1 on the season and a league-leading 9-1 in the NSIC while Bemidji State falls to 7-7 and 3-7 in the NSIC.
            The Wildcats led from start to finish, coming out with intensity on both ends of the floor that resulted in a big lead while forcing Bemidji State into 25 turnovers on the night.  WSC took a 15-4 lead at the 14:44 mark of the first half on a Millie Niggeling jumper.  Kara Powell's jumper put the 'Cats in front 27-6 with 6:40 to play in the half as the Wildcats rolled to a 40-13 lead at halftime, holding Bemidji State to just 17 percent shooting (5 of 29) in the first half.
            Wayne State's starters played sparingly in the second half as the Wildcat reserves took over, scoring 56 of the teams' 87 points in the contest.
            Jaylan Spencer, a 5-11 junior reserve forward from Omaha (Millard West/Northeast CC), led the Wildcats with a career-high 24 points on 8 of 11 shooting from the field and 8 for 9 at the foul line.  Sophomore guard Addy Roller contributed 15 points followed by sophomore guard Whitney Olson and junior forward Millie Niggeling with 12 points each.
            Wayne State made 30 of 57 shots from the field for 52.6 percent, marking the seventh time the Wildcats have shot 50 percent or better this season.  WSC was 9 of 20 from the 3-point line and 18 for 25 at the charity stripe.
            Bemidji State's top scorer was Kate Warmack with 18 points.  The Beavers shot just 28.6 percent from the field, connecting on 16 of 56 shots.  BSU was only 1 of 8 behind the arc and 8 of 14 at the free throw stripe.
            Wayne State out-rebounded Bemidji State 40-34 as Jaylan Spencer grabbed a game-high nine rebounds to lead the Wildcats followed by Ellen Hansen with eight.  Bemidji State's top rebounder was Warmack with eight.
            BSU had 25 turnovers in the game to 16 on Wayne State.  Jordan Spencer recorded a career-high six steals for WSC while Shantel Lehmann and Kara Powell were each credited with four assists.      
            Wayne State will be on the road next weekend, visiting Concordia-St. Paul Friday evening at 6 p.m. and #17 Minnesota State Saturday at 4 p.m.