Box Score Wayne State 66 Northern State 51

            Sophomore forward Maggie Schulte scored 22 of her career-high 28 points in the second half and Wayne State College scored the game's final 12 points to pull away for a 66-51 Northern Sun Conference women's basketball win at Northern State Saturday evening at Wachs Arena in Aberdeen, South Dakota.  It was just the third road win (3-8) of the season for the Wildcats, now 14-9 and 11-7 in the NSIC.  For Northern State, the Wolves suffered just their second home loss of the year (7-2) in falling to 17-6 and 13-5 in league play.
            NSU took an early 7-3 lead in the contest, but WSC scored the next 12 points while holding the Wolves without a point for 7:20 to take a 15-7 first quarter lead before finishing the quarter with a 17-9 advantage.  WSC forced Northern State into 10 first quarter turnovers.
            WSC then went cold from the field in the second quarter, making just 2 of 12 shots, as the Wolves rallied for a 25-24 lead at intermission.
            The second half saw Schulte take the game over for the Wildcats.  After Taylor Reiner opened the second half with Wayne State's first basket, Schulte reeled off 12 straight points for the Wildcats with a pair of 3-pointers and three jumpers. 
            A Sadie Murren 3-pointer with 1:36 to play in the third quarter put WSC in front 44-34 before NSU scored the final five points of the quarter making the score 44-39 entering the fourth quarter.
            Northern State chipped away at the Wildcat lead and was within one at 50-49 with 5:43 to play.
            WSC held a 54-51 lead following a Lauren Deadrick jumper for Northern State with 3:42 left to play.  That would be the last points of the game for Northern State.
            Taylor Reiner sank a jumper for WSC to give the 'Cats a 56-51 lead, then WSC sealed the win making 10 of 10 free throws in the final 1:17 to give Wayne State the 66-51 victory.
            Schulte made 10 of 19 shots from the field and was a perfect 6 of 6 from the line in scoring her career-high 28 points with 22 coming in the second half.  Senior guard Sadie Murren also reached double digits with 12 points.
            Wayne State made 20 of 48 shots in the game for 41.7 percent, making 13 of 22 (59 percent) in the second half.  The 'Cats were 5 for 16 behind the 3-point line and 21 for 24 at the charity stripe.
            Jill Conrad recorded 15 points to lead Northern State while Lauren Deadrick added a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
            Northern State shot just 32.8 percent from the field on 22 of 67 shots.  The Wolves were 4 of 13 from 3-point range and just 3 of 6 at the foul line.
            Wayne State held a slight 39-37 advantage in rebounding over Northern State with Schulte and Alisa Peterson each grabbing seven boards for the 'Cats while Deadrick hauled in a game-high 13 caroms for the Wolves.
            Northern State held a commanding 26-6 advantage on points in the paint and 15-6 in second chance points over the Wildcats.  WSC had two less turnovers than NSU, 18-16.  Murren and Haley Moore each had three assists for WSC while Murren and Anna Martensen were each credited with four steals.
            The Wildcats will be on the road again next weekend, visiting Sioux Falls Friday night at 6 p.m. and Southwest Minnesota Saturday in a 5 p.m. contest.