Wayne State 60 Northern State 56

            Wayne State made 6 of 8 free throws in the final 1:29 to hang on for a 60-56 victory at Northern State Saturday evening in Northern Sun Conference women's basketball played at Wachs Arena in Aberdeen, South Dakota.  WSC is now 12-6 and 7-5 in the NSIC with NSU dropping to 8-10 and 5-7 in league play.
            The host Wolves led the entire first quarter, forcing WSC into six turnovers.  NSU built a pair of six point advantages before finishing the first 10 minutes of play with a 20-17 lead.
            WSC got hot in the second quarter while holding NSU to just 1 of 13 shooting as the Wildcats opened the quarter with an 11-0 run and took a 28-20 lead.  The Wildcats outscored the Wolves 16-6 in the quarter and ended the half with a 33-26 lead.  
            Wayne State maintained the lead the entire third quarter, but the host Wolves methodically cut into the Wildcat advantage.  The 'Cats biggest lead in the quarter was seven at 39-32.  NSU got within two numerous times with Wayne State ending the quarter with a 48-45 edge.
            Northern State took their first lead of the second half at 51-50 on a Brianna Kusler jumper with 6:56 to play.
            The two teams then traded the lead six times until the final minute when WSC regained the lead for good.
            Northern State's final lead was 55-54 at the 2:23 mark.  Freshman Kylie Hammer tied the score at 55-55 making 1 of 2 free throws with 1:29 to play.       
            WSC then took the lead for good when Brittany Bongartz canned two charity tosses with 43 seconds to play.
            Northern's Lexi Wadsworth cut the lead to one, making 1 of 2 free throws with 27 seconds left.
            The Wildcats took a 58-56 lead when Maggie Lowe made 1 of 2 free throws with 13.3 to play.
            Northern State set up for the potential tying shot, but Zoe Hardwick was called for an offensive foul with 5.4 remaining, and Halley Busse was fouled and sealed the win with two free throws with four seconds left for the 60-56 win.
            Sophomore Erin Norling finished the game with 16 points while Bongartz added 15.
            WSC made 20 of 45 shots for 44.4 percent, including 4 for 16 behind the arc.  The Wildcats made 16 of 21 at the free throw line, including 6 of 8 in the final 90 seconds.
            Lexi Wadsworth paced Northern State with 11 points. 
            NSU shot 37.3 percent for the game making 22 of 59 shots.  The Wolves were just 2 of 17 from the 3-point line and 10 of 11 at the free throw line.
            The Wolves held a 38-27 edge in rebounding thanks to 14 offensive rebounds.  Andrea Larson led WSC on the glass with six boards. 
            Maggie Lowe and Kylie Hammer each had two assists while Norling finished with four steals.
            The Wildcats will be at home next weekend, hosting Minnesota State Saturday at 3:30 p.m. and Concordia-St. Paul Sunday afternoon in a 1:30 p.m. contest.