Box Score Wayne State 70 Bemidji State 65

            Wayne State College never trailed, but had to battle for a hard-fought 70-65 Northern Sun Conference women's basketball win Friday evening over Bemidji State at Rice Auditorium in Wayne.  The Wildcats improve to 16-6 and 11-6 in the NSIC South while the visiting Beavers drop to 6-15 and 3-14 in league play.
            The Wildcats opened the game strong, taking a 15-4 lead at the 4:33 mark of the first quarter.  WSC closed the quarter making 8 of 12 shots from the field and 6 of 7 behind the arc as consecutive treys from Amanda Brainerd, Katie Hoskins and Evelyn Knox to end the quarter gave the Wildcats a 26-9 lead.
            But the tables were turned on the Wildcats in the second quarter as WSC went ice cold from the floor (3 of 16 for 18%) while BSU connected on 10 of 16 in the quarter, outscoring the Wildcats 24-9 to cut the Wayne State advantage TO 35-33 at intermission.
            Bemidji State opened the second half with a basket for the game's lone tie at 35-35.  WSC then went on a 12-2 run and regained a double-digit lead at 47-37 following a 3-pointer from Maggie Schulte with 4:22 to play third quarter.
            WSC held a 49-42 lead after three quarters, but BSU would never let the Wildcats put the game out of reach.
            With WSC leading 57-53, the Wildcats used two free throws from Schulte and Paige Ballinger and a layup from Anna Martensen to give the 'Cats a 63-53 lead with 3:47 to play.
            The Beavers made one more run at the Wildcats and got as close as three at 68-65 with 11 seconds, but senior Katie Hoskins canned a pair of free throws with nine seconds to play sealing the 70-65 win.
            Wayne State shot 19 of 50 from the field for 38 percent.  The 'Cats were 8 for 20 behind the arc and 24 of 33 at the charity stripe.
            Ballinger paced WSC in scoring with 20 points.  Martensen and Schulte also hit double figures with 14 and 10 respectively.
            Bemidji State made 27 of 65 shots from the floor (41.5%), going 6 for 20 from the 3-point line.  The Beavers were just 5 of 8 at the foul stripe.
            BSU held a slim 38-36 advantage in rebounding over the Wildcats.  Martensen led WSC on the glass with eight followed by Hoskins and Ballinger with five apiece. 
            WSC had just nine turnovers in the game compared to 10 on BSU.  Ballinger had four of Wayne State's 16 assists and also recorded four of the Wildcats' six blocks. 
            The Wildcats will be at home again Saturday afternoon hosting Minnesota Crookston in a 4 p.m. NSIC contest in Rice Auditorium.