Box Score Wayne State 78 Southwest Minnesota State 55

            Senior center Paige Ballinger recorded a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds and Wayne State outscored Southwest Minnesota State 46-27 in the second half to pull away for a 78-55 Northern Sun Conference women's basketball win Friday evening over the Mustangs at Rice Auditorium in Wayne.  WSC is now 21-6 and 15-4 in the NSIC while SMSU falls to 5-17 and 4-15 in league games.
            The first quarter was tightly contested with four ties and five lead changes, resulting in a 15-15 tie.
            WSC scored the first five points of the second quarter to take the lead for good at 20-15. 
            After building the lead to eight late in the second quarter at 31-23, SMSU closed the gap to four at halftime 32-28.
            The Wildcats opened the third quarter with an 11-2 run, taking their first double digit lead of the game at 43-30. 
            SMSU got as close as seven at 46-39 with 1:52 to go in the third quarter, but the 'Cats scored the final six points of the third quarter for a 52-39 advantage.
            The Wildcats made 4 of 7 3-pointers and 8 of 12 free throws in the fourth stanza, outscoring SMSU 26-16, to finish with the 78-55 win.
            Ballinger led WSC with 19 points and 11 rebounds for her second double-double of the season.  She was 5 of 10 from the field and 9 for 11 at the charity stripe.  Kacie O'Connor also reached double figures with 11.
            WSC made 24 of 57 shots from the field for 42.1 percent, including 8 of 21 from behind the arc.  The 'Cats were 22 of 29 at the free throw line.
            Sadie Stelter scored 12 points for Southwest Minnesota State while Caleigh Rodning also reached double figures with 10.
            Southwest Minnesota State was 18 of 49 from the field for 36.7 percent.  The Mustangs were 5 of 9 from the 3-point line and 14 of 18 at the charity stripe.
            WSC held a 37-30 edge in rebounding over the Mustangs thanks to 11 caroms from Ballinger.
            The Wildcats forced 23 SMSU turnovers in the game while WSC had just 11, resulting in a 23-3 advantage in points off turnovers.
            Ballinger had four of Wayne State's 14 assists and also had three blocked shots.
            The Wildcats will be at home again Saturday hosting Sioux Falls in a 4 p.m. NSIC contest.