Winona State 69 #16 Wayne State 56

            Wayne State College saw its 14-game win streak snapped Friday evening but in the process also clinched a second straight NSIC regular season crown in women's basketball after suffering a 69-56 loss at Winona State.  Thanks to Minnesota State's 74-62 loss at Sioux Falls, Wayne State wrapped up the NSIC regular season title for the fourth time in the last five years.  Wayne State is now 23-4 overall and 17-4 in the NSIC while Winona State improves to 19-6 on the season and 15-6 in league play while also staying unbeaten at home this season at 13-0.
            The Wildcats only led for 49 seconds in the contest and that was on the first basket of the game.  Winona State then scored the next 11 points to take an 11-2 lead at the 13:36 mark of the first half. 
            WSC did come back with a 12-1 run and took a 14-12 lead thanks to five straight points by freshman reserve center Paige Ballinger, a three point play and a pair of free throws with 8:43 to go in the half.
            Winona State then responded with a 13-2 run, taking a 25-16 lead with 4:19 to go in the half.  WSC got as close as two at 25-23 before the Warriors finished the half strong to take a 35-25 lead at intermission.
            The Warriors came out firing in the second half and built a 46-28 lead with 15:36 to play.  WSC slowly chipped away at the lead and got as close as four at 56-52 with 3:59 remaining after a Jordan Spencer jumper. 
            But Winona State scored the next five points go back up 61-52 and the Warriors pulled away for the 69-56 win.
            Jordan Spencer was the lone Wayne State player in double figures with 19 points to go with 11 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season.
            Wayne State made just 19 of 53 shots for 35.8 percent, going 4 for 15 behind the arc and 14 of 18 at the foul line.
            Tara Roelofs led Winona State with 19 points followed by Connor Nagle with 15.  Hannah McGlone produced 12 points and 11 rebounds while Jeny Weiland also hit double digits with 11.
            Winona State shot 38.9 percent on 21 of 54, going 8 for 21 from the 3-point line and 19 of 25 at the charity stripe.
            The Warriors dominated the rebounding battle 43-28 thanks to 11 boards from McGlone while Spencer led WSC on the glass with 11.
            WSC had 12 turnovers compared to 13 for Winona State.
            Wayne State will conclude the regular season Saturday in a 4 p.m. contest at Upper Iowa.