Box Score Wayne State 75 University of Mary 68

            Wayne State opened the fourth quarter on a 15-1 scoring surge to snap a 53-53 tie as the Wildcats went on to defeat the University of Mary 75-68 in a Northern Sun Conference women's basketball game played Friday evening at Rice Auditorium in Wayne.  The win also marked the 400^th career coaching victory for Wildcat head coach Chris Kielsmeier, who is now 400-112 in his 18^th season of coaching (221-68 at WSC and 179-44 at Howard Payne). 
            With the win, the Wildcats improve to 9-3 overall and 3-1 in the NSIC while the Marauders drop to 4-6 and 0-4 in league play.
            Neither team led by more than three points in a tightly contested first quarter that saw the visiting Marauders hold a 22-21 lead after 10 minutes.
            The second quarter was more of the same as the two teams traded three lead changes with four more ties. 
            With the game tied for the 11^th time at 32-32, WSC used a 3-pointer from Maggie Lowe and a layup from Brittany Bongartz to give the 'Cats a 37-36 lead at intermission.
            Mary opened the third quarter with five straight points to take their biggest lead at 41-37, but WSC came back and used five straight points from Paige Ballinger and a jumper from Amanda Brainerd to take a 44-43 lead.
            The two teams traded more lead changes and ties with the third quarter ending on the 16^th and final tie of the contest at 53-53.
            WSC then used a 15-1 scoring surge to start the fourth quarter, resulting in a 66-54 lead with 6:37 to play. 
            After the Wildcats took their biggest lead of the night at 14 (68-54), Mary made one last run at WSC and got as close as six at 72-66 with 1:30 remaining.  WSC sealed the win with one free throw from Kacie O'Connor and two more from Maggie Schulte to make the final score 75-68.
            Schulte led Wayne State in scoring with 19 points followed by freshman reserve center Brittany Bongartz with 17.
            Wayne State made 28 of 65 shots from the field for 43.1 percent, going just 2 of 10 behind the arc.  The 'Cats were 17 for 22 (77.3%) at the free throw line.
            Gabbie Bohl scored a game-high 21 points to lead the University of Mary in scoring.  Lauren Rotunda added 19 points with Cassie Askvig accounting for a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
            Mary held a 38-32 advantage in rebounding over the Wildcats.  Bongartz and Erin Norling each grabbed seven boards for WSC. 
            The Wildcats had just 10 turnovers compared to 21 on Mary, resulting in a 24-11 advantage for Wayne State in points off turnovers.  Schulte had six of Wayne State's 18 assists in the game followed by Halley Busse and Maggie Lowe with four each.  Lowe and Schulte were each credited with three steals.     
            The Wildcats will be at home again Saturday afternoon hosting Minot State in a 4 p.m. contest at Rice Auditorium.