Box Score Wayne State 75 Minot State 45
             Efficient scoring by junior Paige Ballinger leads Wayne State to a 75-45 Northern Sun Conference women's basketball victory Saturday at Minot State in Minot, North Dakota.  The Wildcats improve to 7-3 and 2-3 in the NSIC while the host Beavers fall to 2-9 and 0-5 in NSIC play.   
            The Wildcats trailed 6-3 early in the first quarter before scoring thirteen straight.  WSC did not trail the remainder of the game following the 13-0 run.  Anna Martensen recorded five points and three steals to spark the Wayne State offense as the 'Cats shot 71.4% from the field in the first quarter.
Wayne State used eight points from the bench and seven points off turnovers to take a 31-18 lead into halftime against Minot State.
            The game was never closer than the halftime score as the Wildcats shot 75% from the field as a team in the second half.  Paige Ballinger scored eight points while Maggie Schulte added six points in the third quarter to extend the lead to 21 heading into the fourth quarter. 
            Andrea Larson opened up the scoring in the fourth quarter with two layups to put Wayne State ahead 53-30.  The lead continued to increase as seven different Wildcats scored in the final quarter to give WSC the 75-45 win.  
            Ballinger led all scorers with 17 points after only playing eight total minutes.  The Pender High School graduate was 7-7 from the field and 3-3 from the charity stripe.  Junior Maggie Schulte added 11 points and five assists.
            WSC shot 62.2% from the field (28-45) and 57.1% (4-7) from 3-point range.  Wayne State shot 83.3% (15-18) from the charity stripe.
            Minot State had two double-digit scorers in the game.  Madison Wald recorded 12 points and five rebounds while Kristal Flowers had 10 points and four rebounds for the Beavers.  MISU made 18 of 62 shots from the field for 29.0% and 5-22 from 3-point range.  The Beavers shot 50% at the line going 4-8. 
            MISU outrebounded WSC 33-31.  Haley Hildenbrand hauled in six rebounds for the Beavers while Freshman Amanda Brainerd recorded a season-high six rebounds to lead the 'Cats. 
            The Wildcats forced 18 turnovers and held a 20-11 edge in points off turnovers in the game.  Wayne State's bench also held a 32-20 advantage in scoring over Minot State.
            Eight Wildcats recorded assists in the game while Martensen was credited with a team-high six steals.  Paige Ballinger and Taylor Reiner each had two blocks for the 'Cats. 
            Wayne State returns to action on Saturday afternoon hosting Augustana University in a 4 p.m. NSIC contest in Rice Auditorium.