Box Score Wayne State 74 Sioux Falls 65

            Wayne State outscored Sioux Falls 43-33 in the second half to capture a 74-65 Northern Sun Conference women's basketball victory Saturday afternoon at the Stewart Center in Sioux Falls, S.D.  The Wildcats improve to 11-4 overall and 5-2 in the NSIC while the host Cougars fall to 8-3 and 5-2 in conference play.
            After WSC scored the first three points of the game, USF responded scoring the next seven points to take a 7-3 lead with 5:49 remaining in the first quarter.  The Wildcats regained the lead off a pair of Maggie Lowe free throws to make the score 16-15 before Sioux Falls hit a three-pointer to end the quarter and retake the lead 18-16.
            The second quarter saw the Wildcats take the lead at the 7:14 mark after a layup by Erin Norling.  WSC held the lead until the Cougars used a layup from Mariah Szymanski with 37 seconds remaining in the half to take a 32-31 lead at intermission. 
            Senior Kacie O'Connor caught fire in the third quarter as she scored 14 points to help Wayne State shoot 50 percent and give the Wildcats a 57-53 lead heading into the final quarter.
            The fourth quarter saw the Wildcats never trail and build their lead to as much as 10 with 4:55 left in the game before going on to secure a 74-65 victory over Sioux Falls. 
            Senior Paige Ballinger led Wayne State with 14 points and 10 rebounds to record her first double-double of the season.  Kacie O'Connor scored 14 points followed by Maggie Schulte and Maggie Lowe with 13 each. 
            Wayne State made 22 of 53 shots for 41.5 percent and was 7 of 13 from behind the arc.  The 'Cats were 23 of 28 at the free throw line. 
            Kaely Hummel led Sioux Falls with 22 points followed by Mariah Szymanski with 18.  The Cougars shot 35.8 percent from the field going 24 for 67 and 8 of 29 from 3-point range while going 9 for 14 at the charity stripe. 
            WSC outrebounded USF 48-32 with Ballinger recording 10 and Schulte with nine for the 'Cats.
            Wayne State had 14 turnovers in the game compared to just seven for Sioux Falls.
            Maggie Lowe and Maggie Schulte both dished out four assists with Schulte adding two blocks. 
            The Wildcats will be in action again Sunday afternoon visiting Southwest Minnesota State at 2 p.m.