Box Score Minnesota Crookston 80 Wayne State 64

            Wayne State College shot just 38% from the field (23-60) in suffering a 80-64 loss on the road Friday evening to Minnesota Crookston in Northern Sun Conference women's basketball played in Crookston, Minnesota.  The Golden Eagles improve to 5-3 overall and 2-2 in the Northern Sun, while the loss drops the Wildcats to 5-4 overall and 2-2 in conference play.
            The first quarter was a back and forth affair, featuring two ties and three lead changes.  The Wildcats jumped out to a quick 8-2 advantage just three minutes into the game.  Minnesota Crookston responded with a 14-4 run of their own, to take the lead at 16-12 with 3:32 remaining in the quarter.  Wayne State fought back led by Paige Ballinger and Maggie Schulte, combining for the next seven points for the Wildcats, and took the lead at 19-18 at the end of the quarter thanks to a last second jumper from Schulte.
            After a Jasmin Bretoi jumper to open the second quarter, the Wildcats extended their lead to 21-18, but this was the largest lead they would see the rest of the game.  The Golden Eagles took the lead for good with 4:37 to play in the first half thanks to a layup from Isiemoa Odor.  Minnesota Crookston finished the half on a 15-9 run to take the lead 42-36 into halftime. 
            Minnesota Crookston started to pull away in the second half as WSC made just 8 of 31 shots in the second half (25.8%) and was never able to recover from the deficit.
            The Wildcats made just five shots in the third quarter and trailed 63-49 entering the fourth quarter.
            The cold shooting continued for Wayne State in the fourth quarter as the Wildcats just made just three shots, and saw the Golden Eagle lead swell to as much as 25 with 3:36 to play in the game.  Wayne State finished the game on a 9-0 run for the 80-64 final score.
            Wayne State finished the game 23 of 60 from the field for 38%, including 8 for 31 in the second half.  The 'Cats were 5 of 21 behind the arc and 13 for 20 from the charity stripe.
            Sophomore center Paige Ballinger led Wayne State in scoring with 13 points and seven rebounds, while sophomore forward Kacie O'Connor added a season high 10 points. 
            Minnesota Crookston shot 29 of 59 from the field for 49.2%, going 10 of 18 from behind the arc and 12 of 15 from the free throw line.
            Katrina Nordick scored a game high 24 points, along with nine rebounds to lead three Golden Eagles in double figures.  Alexa Thielman had 23 points, and Micaela Noga finished with 13.
            Minnesota Crookston dominated the glass, holding a 45-27 advantage over the Wildcats in rebounding, thanks to 11 rebound from Isieoma Odor and nine from Nordick.
            Wayne State had 15 turnovers to 16 committed by Minnesota Crookston, and the 'Cats held a 32-28 edge on points in the paint, as well as outscoring the Golden Eagles 27-7 in bench scoring.
            The Wildcats will be back in action Saturday evening against Bemidji State in a 4 p.m. contest in Bemidji, Minnesota.