Box Score Wayne State 68 Minnesota Duluth 52

            Wayne State College outscored Minnesota Duluth 26-12 in the third quarter to break open a close game as the Wildcats pulled away for a 68-52 Northern Sun Conference women's basketball win over the Bulldogs at Rice Auditorium in Wayne Friday evening.  The Wildcats extend their win streak to five in a row, improving to 10-6 overall and 7-4 in league play while UMD is now 4-10 and 4-7.  With the win, WSC head coach Chris Kielsmeier (182-52) is now tied with Ryun Williams (182-106) for the most wins by a Wildcat women's basketball coach.
            The game was close early as the two teams traded the lead three times to go with two ties.
            With WSC trailing 12-11 at the 2:31 mark of the first quarter, the Wildcats received an instant spark off the bench when sophomore guard Jasmin Bretoi drained three straight 3-pointers in the next 1:40 to give WSC a 20-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.
            The Wildcats went cold from the field in the second quarter, making just three baskets as the Bulldogs slowly cut into the WSC advantage. 
            WSC led 24-17 at the 6:18 mark of the second quarter following a Paige Ballinger jumper, but UMD held the 'Cats to just two baskets the rest of the quarter and used a 3-pointer from Emma Boehm with seven seconds left before halftime to cut Wayne State's lead to one at intermission 29-28.
            Wayne State started the second half on fire from the field, making its first six shots that put the Wildcats up 43-32 with 6:01 to play in the third quarter.
            After UMD got within seven at 43-36, WSC closed out the quarter with a 12-4 run to take a commanding 55-40 lead entering the fourth quarter and the Wildcats maintained a double digit lead the rest of the way in finishing with the 68-52 victory.
            Sophomore center Paige Ballinger led Wayne State in scoring with 17 points followed by Haley Moore and Maggie Schulte with 13 and 10 respectively.
            The Wildcats shot an even 50 percent from the field making 22 of 44 shots, including 8 for 17 from beyond the arc.  WSC was also 16 of 20 at the free throw line.
            Allyson Harris was the lone double digit scorer for Minnesota Duluth with 13.  The Bulldogs shot 36.2 percent from the field on 21 of 58, going 4 for 12 from the 3-point line and 6 for 13 at the free throw line.
            Minnesota Duluth held a 36-27 advantage in rebounding over Wayne State thanks to 12 boards by Harris.  Wayne State's top rebounder was Anna Martensen with eight.
            WSC held a 24-9 advantage on points off turnovers as the Wildcats forced 17 miscues on the Bulldogs, three less than Wayne State.
            Senior guard Sadie Murren handed out eight of Wayne State's 14 assists and had three steals.
            The Wildcats will be at home again Saturday afternoon hosting St. Cloud State in a 4 p.m. contest at Rice Auditorium.