Box Score Wayne State 76 Southwest Minnesota State 60

            Wayne State led for over 38 minutes against Southwest Minnesota State to cruise to a Northern Sun Conference women's basketball victory Sunday afternoon in Marshall, Minnesota.  The Wildcats improve to 12-4 on the year and 6-2 in conference play while the host Mustangs fall to 2-9 and 1-7 in the NSIC.
            WSC trailed for only 29 seconds in a game with just two lead changes.  After going down 3-2 at the 9:10 mark, Wayne State shot 64.3 percent from the floor to build a 24-16 lead after the first quarter. 
            The second quarter saw the Wildcats push their lead to 15 after Halley Busse made a free to make the score 45-30.  Freshman Brittany Bongartz scored 11 points in the first half to help pace Wayne State and give them a 45-32 lead at halftime.
            After the intermission, it took nearly three minutes for either team to score.  SMSU struck first when Caleigh Rodning converted one of two free throws at the 7:10 mark.  The Wildcats responded with a 6-0 run to push the score to 51-33 and give them an 18-point lead. 
Wayne State took their largest lead of the game with 3:29 remaining in the third quarter after Brittany Bongartz converted a three-point play to give the 'Cats a 56-35 lead. 
            WSC continued to cruise in the fourth quarter as Wayne State reserves closed out the road win 76-60.
            Brittany Bongartz led the Wildcat offense with a season-high 18 points, going 7 of 13 from the field and making 4 of 5 from the charity stripe.  Senior Paige Ballinger and freshman Erin Norling also reached double digits scoring 15 and 14 points respectively.
            Wayne State shot 43.8 percent from the field making 28 of 64 shots, going 6 for 21 from three-point range and sinking 14 of 18 free throws.
            Caleigh Rodning led Southwest Minnesota State in scoring with 12 points while hauling in eight rebounds. 
The Mustangs made 21 of 54 shots from the field for 38.9 percent, including 7 of 22 from behind the arc.  SMSU was 11 of 15 at the free throw line.
            The Wildcats outrebounded the Mustangs 41-32 thanks to nine rebounds from senior Kacie O'Connor and six from Senior Maggie Schulte.  WSC held a 28-24 edge on points in the paint and 13-4 advantage in points off turnovers.  Wayne State was charged with just nine turnovers while Southwest Minnesota State committed 15. 
            Junior guard Maggie Lowe had five of the Wildcat's 21 assists while Erin Norling added three steals for WSC.
            Wayne State will be at home Friday evening hosting Concordia-St. Paul in an 8 p.m. contest at Rice Auditorium.