#18 Wayne State 76 Bemidji State 50

            Freshman reserve center Paige Ballinger had a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead #18 Wayne State College in a 76-50 win over Bemidji State in the first round of the NSIC/Sanford Health Women's Basketball Tournament played at Rice Auditorium in Wayne.  WSC is now 25-4 on the season while Bemidji State finishes 6-22.
            The visiting Beavers kept the game close early with solid 3-point shooting until WSC held Bemidji State scoreless over the final five minutes of the half to take a 42-22 lead at intermission.
            Following the game's fourth tie at 11-11, WSC took the lead for good on a Paige Ballinger layup at the 14:02 mark for a 13-11 Wildcat lead.
            After Bemidji State got within one at 13-12, the Wildcats used another Ballinger layup followed by baskets from Jordan Spencer and Ballinger again to go up 19-12 with 12:01 to go in the half.
            Wayne State took their first double digit lead at 25-15 on a Millie Niggeling jumper with 9:25 to play in the half. 
            Bemidji State got as close as seven on a Tatum Sheley 3-pointer with 5:16 to go in the half.  But that would the final points by the Beavers in the half as WSC went on a 13-0 run to close the half for a 42-22 halftime lead.
            Wayne State pushed the lead to 24 points early in the second half, leading 51-27 following a pair of Sadie Murren free throws with 15:44 to play in the game. 
            Bemidji State got as close as 15 at 57-42 on a Aimee Pelzer trey with 9:00 left in the game.  But WSC put the game out of reach with a 15-4 run and built the lead to 28 points before finishing with the 76-50 victory.
            Ballinger led a balanced scoring attack with her 19 point, 11 rebound performance for her third double-double of the season.  Jordan Spencer added 15 points with Ashton Yossi and Millie Niggeling accounting for 12 points apiece.
            Wayne State shot an even 50 percent for the game making 25 of 50 shots from the field.  The 'Cats were 6 for 19 from 3-point range and 20 of 24 at the charity stripe.
            Tatum Sheley scored 15 points to lead Bemidji State with Aimee Pelzer and Sierra Senske adding 12 points each.
            Bemidji State made 20 of 64 shots from the field for 31.3 percent, going 8 of 21 behind the arc and just 2 for 5 at the charity stripe.
            Wayne State held a commanding 44-26 advantage on the boards, marking the first time in seven games the Wildcats out-rebounded their opponent.  Ballinger led WSC on the glass with 11 caroms followed by Maggie Schulte with seven.  Bemidji State's top rebounder was Mikayla Larson with five.
            The Wildcats were charged with 15 turnovers compared to 12 on Bemidji State.  Sadie Murren handed out a career-high seven assists in the win while Jordan Spencer had three steals.
            Wayne State held a 34-12 advantage on points in the paint, 10-0 on fast break points and 22-2 in bench scoring over the Beavers.  Both teams had 17 points off turnovers.
            Wayne State will advance to the NSIC Sanford Health Women's Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals on Saturday at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls where the Wildcats face St. Cloud State at 5:30 p.m.  The Huskies advanced Wednesday evening with an 87-76 home win over the University of Sioux Falls.