#22 Wayne State 81 MSU Moorhead 60

            Jordan Spencer recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds as #22 Wayne State College pulled away in the second half for an 81-60 Northern Sun Conference women's basketball win over MSU Moorhead Friday evening at Rice Auditorium in Wayne.  It was the 11^th straight win for the Wildcats, now 20-3 overall and 14-3 in the NSIC.  WSC also takes over sole possession of first place in the NSIC thanks to Northern State's 59-57 loss at Augustana.
            Wayne State has now recorded a 20-win season for the 11^th time in school history and the fifth time in the last seven years under head coach Chris Kielsmeier.
            MSU Moorhead opened with an early 5-2 lead, then WSC scored the next seven points and took a 9-5 lead on a Millie Niggeling 3-pointer.  WSC would lead the rest of the night.
            The 'Cats extended the lead to 20-11 on a 3-point play by Ashton Yossi with 11:09 to go in the half.  The Dragons slowly chipped away at the lead and got as close as two points at 26-24 with 4:13 to go in the half.
            But WSC responded with a pair of baskets by Sadie Murren and a 3-pointer from Yossi to take a 33-26 lead before heading into the locker room with a 33-28 advantage at intermission.
            Wayne State never let MSU Moorhead back into the game in the second half, using 57 percent shooting (16 of 28) to pull away for the win.
            The Wildcats took their first double digit lead of the night at 39-29 on a Yossi layup at the 18:23 mark. 
            WSC maintained a 10-15 point lead until pulling away in the final six minutes.
            With WSC leading 61-49 with 6:23 remaining, the Wildcats put the game away with a 15-2 run over the next 4:18 to take a commanding 76-51 advantage as WSC finished with an 81-60 win.
            Wayne State had four players in double figures, led by Spencer's fifth double-double of the year with 18 points and 10 rebounds on 7 of 10 shooting from the field.  Senior Millie Niggeling contributed 15 points in the win followed by Ashton Yossi and Paige Ballinger with 12 and 10 points respectively.
            The Wildcats made 30 of 55 shots from the field for 54.5 percent, the ninth game WSC has shot 50 percent or better this season.  WSC was 8 of 17 from 3-point range and 13 for 15 at the charity stripe.
            Drew Sannes paced MSU Moorhead scoring 16 points to go with 12 rebounds.  Meghan Roehrich added 15 points with Savanna Handevidt scoring 13. 
            MSU Moorhead shot 38.7 percent from the field on 24 of 62.  The Dragons were 3 of 12 behind the arc and 9 of 12 at the foul line.
            The Dragons held a 37-29 advantage in rebounding over WSC thanks to 16 offensive rebounds.  Sannes grabbed a game-high 12 caroms for MSUM while Spencer had 10 boards with Maggie Schulte grabbing six for the Wildcats.
            WSC had just 13 turnovers in the game compared to 21 by MSUM.  Spencer handed out a career-high six assists to lead the Wildcats followed by Yossi and Murren with four apiece.  Yossi and Spencer each were credited with five steals.
            The Wildcats held a 45-33 advantage on points in the paint and 23-10 edge in points off turnovers.
            The Wildcats will be in action again Saturday at 4 p.m., hosting #16 Northern State in a battle of the top two teams in the NSIC at Rice Auditorium.