#11 Wayne State 89 #22 Minnesota State 82

            Wayne State College got a season-high 22 points from sophomore guard Addy Roller and a season-high 20 from senior forward Ellen Hansen as the 11^th-ranked Wildcats rebounded from last night's 69-50 loss at Concordia-St. Paul with an 89-82 win Saturday afternoon at #22 Minnesota State at the Taylor Center in Mankato, Minnesota.  The Wildcats maintain first place in the NSIC South with records of 17-2 overall and 10-2 in league play while the host Mavericks fall to 11-5 on the season and 8-4 in the NSIC.
            The first half featured three ties and three lead changes and was close throughout.  The host Mavericks led early by three points several times.  Minnesota State's last lead was at 18-15 with 8:45 to play in the half as WSC reeled off 10 straight points, highlighted by Ellen Hansen's back-to-back 3's and a layup to put the Wildcats ahead 28-21 with 5:23 left before halftime.
            The Mavericks battled back and forced the game's third and final tie at 30-30 before Millie Niggeling sank two free throws with .2 seconds left before halftime to give the Wildcats a 32-30 lead at halftime.
            Wayne State opened the second half on a 13-5 run and took their first double digit lead of the night at 45-35 on an Addy Roller trey with 15:17 to play.  Moments later, the Wildcats took their biggest lead of the night at 53-40 on a pair of Kara Powell free throws with 11:36 remaining.
            Minnesota State got as close as six points four times with the last one coming at 66-60 with 4:36 left.  WSC then got two free throws and a jumper from Jordan Spencer to push the lead back to 10 and the Wildcats used clutch free throw shooting and key baskets down the stretch to hold off the Mavericks 89-82 to win against Minnesota State for the 10^th time in their last 11 meetings.
            Junior forward Jordan Spencer paced a balanced Wildcat scoring attack with 26 points on 9 of 14 shooting from the field.  Sophomore guard Addy Roller followed with a season-high 22 points, going 6 for 9 from the field and a perfect 7 of 7 at the charity stripe.  Senior forward Ellen Hansen contributed a season-high 20 points in the win with junior guard Ashton Yossi adding 10 points.
            Wayne State made 23 of 49 shots for 46.9 percent, going 8 of 20 from the 3-point line.  The Wildcats made a season-high 35 of 39 from the free throw line for 89.7 percent.
            Aubrey Davis led Minnesota State with 21 points followed by Ali Wilkinson with 20.  The Mavericks were 30 for 78 shooting for 38.5 percent and 9 of 19 from the 3-point line.  MSU was 13 for 19 at the free throw line.
            Minnesota State out-rebounded Wayne State 43-35 thanks to eight rebounds from Wilkinson while Ellen Hansen led Wayne State on the glass with nine boards.  Junior forward Millie Niggeling handed out a career-high five assists to lead the Wildcats while Yossi had three steals.
            The Wildcats return to Rice Auditorium next weekend for home NSIC games against Southwest Minnesota State Friday evening at 6 p.m. and the University of Sioux Falls Saturday at 4 p.m.
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