#22 Wayne State 58 #16 Northern State 57

            Senior forward Jordan Spencer made a driving layup with 12.3 seconds remaining to give #22 Wayne State College a thrilling 58-57 win over #16 Northern State in Northern Sun Conference women's basketball Saturday evening at Rice Auditorium in Wayne.  It was the 12^th straight win for the Wildcats, now 21-3 overall and 15-3 in the NSIC, and it gives Wayne State a two-game lead in the NSIC standings over Northern State, who is 19-5 and 13-5 in league play.
            The first half featured four ties and 10 lead changes.  The Wildcats built a pair of six point leads at 27-21 and 30-24 before finishing the first half with a 32-30 lead.
            WSC used a quick start to the second half to build a double digit lead, but the 'Cats went ice cold from the field that allowed Northern State back into the game.  3-pointers from Millie Niggeling and Maggie Schulte along with a Niggeling jumper and a 3-point play by Jordan Spencer put the 'Cats in front 43-30 with 16:33 remaining in the game.
            The Wildcats still held a 13-point lead at 50-37 with 13:20 to play following a 3-point play by Sadie Murren.  But the Murren basket would be the final WSC basket until Spencer's layup with 12.3 seconds to play.
            Two Maggie Schulte free throws with 6:19 to play gave WSC a 54-45 lead over the Wolves.  Northern State chipped away at the lead and took their only lead of the second half at 57-56 with 1:17 to play on a Rachel Krogman layup.
            Each team missed baskets on their ensuing possessions giving WSC the ball with 24 seconds to play.  Spencer caught a pass at the top of the circle and drove through the lane to make a layup from the right side with 12.3 seconds left and was fouled on the play but missed the free throw giving Northern State one final possession and a chance to win the game.
            Devon Brecke's 3-pointer from the left wing was strong and the rebound went out of bounds off Wayne State with 0.4 seconds to play.  The Wolves could not get a shot off on the inbounds and Wayne State held on for the thrilling win.
            Spencer led Wayne State in scoring with 13 points followed by Schulte with 12.  The Wildcats shot just 26.9 percent in the second half (7 of 26) and finished the game making 17 of 49 for 34.7 percent.  WSC was 4 of 16 from the 3-point line and 20 for 26 at the charity stripe.
            Rachel Krogman paced Northern State with 18 points and 17 rebounds while Sadie Stotesbery produced 15.
            Northern State made 25 of 62 shots for 40.3 percent, going 2 of 8 from behind the arc and 5 of 7 at the foul line.
            The Wolves held a sizeable 46-28 advantage in rebounding over the Wildcats thanks to Krogman's 17 caroms while Wayne State's top rebounder was Schulte with five.
            Wayne State held a 19-3 edge in points off turnovers while Northern State outscored WSC in the paint 24-14.
            WSC had just seven turnovers compared to 14 by Northern State.  Ashton Yossi and Murren each had four assists for the Wildcats while Yossi and Spencer notched three steals apiece.
            Wayne State will be at home again next weekend, hosting Sioux Falls Friday night at 6 p.m. and Southwest Minnesota State Saturday in a 4 p.m. contest at Rice Auditorium.