Box Score Wayne State 67 Sioux Falls 57

            Wayne State never trailed in the second half to pick up a 67-57 win Saturday evening over Sioux Falls at the Stewart Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  The Wildcats improve to 19-6 and 14-6 in the NSIC while the host Cougars fall to 18-6 overall and 14-6 in league play.
            After starting out the game trailing 6-2, the Wildcats scored 12 straight points to take a 14-6 lead over the Cougars with 2:22 remaining in the first quarter.  USF scored the next five points to end the quarter with WSC still leading 14-11.
            Sioux Falls continued their run and went on to take a 19-14 lead three minutes in the second quarter.  The Wildcats then used a Katie Hoskins layup to regain the lead 22-21 at the 2:32 minute mark.  The two teams traded baskets until WSC got layups from Paige Ballinger and Kacie O'Connor to end the half with Wayne State up 28-25.
            The Wildcats maintained the lead the entire third quarter as USF never got closer than two points.  WSC headed into the fourth quarter leading 46-38.
            Wayne State continued to cruise in the final quarter and expanded their lead to as much as 15 points with just over three minutes remaining in the contest.  The Cougars cut the lead to 63-54 with 1:57 remaining in the game but would not get any closer as the 'Cats went on for a 67-57 victory on the road. 
            WSC was 24 of 45 shooting in the contest for 53.3%, going 2 of 6 from the 3-point line and 17 of 22 at the charity stripe.   
            Three Wayne State players reached double-figures in scoring.  Senior Anna Martensen led WSC in scoring with 18 points followed by Maggie Schulte with 16 and Paige Ballinger with 14. 
            Sioux Falls was 24 of 62 shooting for 38.7%, hitting 5 of 16 from the 3-point line and 4 of 11 free throws. 
            Sam Knecht led the Cougars with a double-double scoring 22 points and collecting 12 rebounds. 
            The Wildcats held a slight 31-30 edge in rebounding over the Cougars with Schulte grabbing eight rebounds and Taylor Reiner with six off the bench. 
            Kacie O'Connor dished out three assists with Schulte and Ballinger each giving out two. 
            Haley Moore and Katie Hoskins were both credited with two steal while O'Connor was credited with one. 
            The Wildcats will be at home next weekend to close out the regular season, hosting Upper Iowa Friday evening at 6 p.m. and #23 Winona State Saturday in a 4 p.m. contest.