Box Score Wayne State 83 Sioux Falls 73

            Wayne State College rallied from a 36-18 second quarter deficit and sophomore forward Maggie Schulte led five players in double figures with a game-high 22 points to propel the Wildcats in an 83-73 Northern Sun Conference women's basketball win over the University of Sioux Falls Sunday afternoon at Rice Auditorium in Wayne.  The host Wildcats improve to 7-6 overall (7-1 at home) and 4-4 in league play while the Cougars slip to 12-2 and 6-2 in the NSIC.
            The Cougars came out of the gate red hot from the field, making 10 of 15 shots in the first quarter (4 of 5 from the 3-point line) to take a 26-10 lead on the Wildcats after one quarter.
            Sioux Falls pushed the lead to 18 at 36-18 with 5:27 to go in the second quarter when the Wildcats made a comeback.  Four different Wildcats scored to fuel a 12-0 run over the next 3:11, getting WSC within six at 36-30 with 2:16 to play in the half.
            USF increased the lead back to 10 at 43-33 before WSC finished the half trailing 43-36.
            Wayne State came out of the locker room ready to play as the Wildcats opened the second half with a 15-2 run in the opening 3:20 of the third quarter to grab a 51-45 lead.
            Back-to-back 3-pointers by Maggie Schulte and a jumper by Sadie Murren at the 8:30 mark of the third quarter gave WSC their first lead since the first minute of the game at 44-43.
            WSC closed the scoring spurt on a Taylor Reiner layup to give the 'Cats a 51-45 lead.  After Sioux Falls pulled within two at 55-53 at the 3:29 mark of the third quarter, WSC reeled off nine straight points on a pair of Schulte jumpers, a 3-pointer by Haley Moore and a layup by Kacie O'Connor to take a 64-53 lead late in the third quarter.
            Sioux Falls got as close as five in the fourth quarter, 69-64 with 7:05 remaining. 
            The Wildcats pushed the lead back to 10 at 78-68 following a Sadie Murren 3-point play with 3:18 to play and the Wildcats held on to defeat the Cougars 83-73.
            Schulte led a balanced Wildcat scoring attack with 22 points (17 in the second half) on 9 of 19 shooting from the field.  Sophomore center Paige Ballinger produced 18 points with Murren, Moore and O'Connor each scoring 11 points. 
            Wayne State was 27 of 56 from the field for 48.2 percent.  The 'Cats were 9 for 22 behind the 3-point line and 20 of 26 at the free throw line.
            Sioux Falls was led by Taylor Varsho and Alison Klostergaard with 14 points each.  Varsho scored all 14 of her points in the first half.  Teagan Molden and Amber Paden also hit double digits for the Cougars with 11 each.
            The Cougars made 23 of 59 shots from the field for 39 percent, going 8 for 23 beyond the arc and 19 for 29 at the charity stripe.
            Sioux Falls won the rebounding battle over the Wildcats 42-30 as Varsho grabbed nine rebounds for the Cougars while Schulte hauled in seven boards for the Wildcats.
            Murren had five of Wayne State's 12 assists in the game and had three steals.
            Wayne State will be on the road next weekend, visiting Minnesota State Friday night at 6 p.m. and Concordia-St. Paul Saturday in a 4 p.m. contest.