#12 Wayne State 71 Sioux Falls 61

           Junior forward Jordan Spencer scored a game-high 22 points to help #12 Wayne State overcome a slow start as the Wildcats recorded a 71-61 Northern Sun Conference women's basketball win Saturday evening over Sioux Falls at Rice Auditorium in Wayne. Wayne State is now 19-2 overall and 12-2 in the NSIC while snapping a four-game win streak for the visiting Cougars, now 10-8 and 6-7 in league play.
            WSC trailed virtually the entire first half and trailed by as many as nine at 16-7 with 14:45 to play in the half.  Trailing 29-22 with 2:35 to go before halftime, WSC closed the half with a 10-2 run and took only their second lead of the game at 32-31 on an Ashton Yossi 3-pointer with 19 seconds left before halftime
            The game stayed close in the second half until the Wildcats made free throws late to record the win.  The final lead for USF came at 43-42 with 16:14 remaining following a Bailey Bouman 3-pointer.  WSC took a seven point lead at 56-49 on a Millie Niggeling trey with 8:34 to play, but the Cougars got as close as two at 57-55 with 5:38 remaining. 
            The Wildcat pushed the lead back to eight with USF making one final rally cutting the lead to 63-59 with 1:22 to play.  WSC finished the game making 8 of 8 free throws to finally hold off the Cougars 71-61.
            Spencer paced Wayne State in scoring with her game-high 22 points, her eighth game this season of 20 or more points.  She was 10 of 14 from the foul line.  Sophomore guard Addy Roller (14) and junior guard Ashton Yossi (13) also reached double figures for the Wildcats.
            Wayne State finished the game making just 22 of 58 shots for 37.9 percent, going 6 for 20 beyond the arc and 21 of 27 at the free throw line.
            Laura Johnson had a double-double to lead Sioux Falls with 19 points and 10 rebounds.  Taylor Varsho added 15 points and Sam Knecht scored 10.  The Cougars were 24 for 65 shooting for 36.9 percent, including 6 of 25 from the 3-point line.  USF was 7 for 9 at the foul line.
            Sioux Falls held a 41-39 advantage in rebounding over the Wildcats thanks to Johnson's 10 caroms.  Wayne State's top rebounder was Ellen Hansen with 11, her seventh game with 10 or more rebounds this season.
            Hansen and Ashton Yossi each had four assists for WSC while Roller led the 'Cats on defense with four steals.
            Wayne State hits the road next weekend for NSIC games at St. Cloud State Friday evening at 6 p.m. and Minnesota Duluth Saturday at 4 p.m.
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