Minnesota Crookston 66 Wayne State 65

            Wayne State made just 3 of 14 shots in the fourth quarter allowing Minnesota Crookston to rally for a 66-65 victory over the Wildcats Saturday afternoon in Northern Sun Conference women's basketball played in Crookston, Minnesota.  WSC drops to 7-3 and 3-2 in the NSIC while UMC improves to 2-7 and 1-4 in league games.
            The Wildcats started strong against the Golden Eagles, making 10 of 15 shots in the opening quarter to build a 22-17 lead. 
            WSC opened with a 10-4 lead.  After UMC closed within one at 12-11, the Wildcats used 3-pointers from Kylie Hammer and Halley Busse followed by a pair of baskets from Erin Norling to take a 22-13 lead before finishing the quarter in front 22-17.
            The Wildcats then went ice cold from the field in the second quarter, going just 4-19 for 21 percent as Minnesota Crookston outscored WSC 18-11 to rally for a 35-33 lead at intermission.
            Wayne State found their shot again in the third quarter, going 6-11 from the field, as Norling and Busse combined to score 14 of the Wildcats' 19 points in the quarter as the 'Cats held a 52-49 lead entering the fourth quarter.
            The streaky up and down shooting for the Wildcats continued in the fourth quarter as Wayne State could not make key baskets late, going just 3-14 (21%) in the final 10 minutes.
            With the score tied at 52-52 at the 8:36 mark, Minnesota Crookston built a 62-55 advantage with 4:11 to play.
            Wayne State then scored the following 10 points and held a 65-62 lead with 1:55 remaining after Brittany Bongartz went 1-2 at the charity stripe.
            That would be the last points for WSC in the contest. 
            Minnesota Crookston's Abby Guidinger made a running left handed shot in the lane with 13.2 seconds to play giving the host Golden Eagles a 66-65 lead.
            Wayne State set up for the final shot but Norling was called for a traveling violation.  The 'Cats had to foul UMC, who missed a pair of free throws with 1.7 seconds to play but the Wildcats were not able to get off a shot as the host Golden Eagles held on for the win.
            Norling led Wayne State with a game-high 30 points on 12-23 shooting for the Wildcats.  Busse also reached double figures with 13.
            Wayne State was 23-59 from the field for 39 percent, including 7 for 21 behind the arc and 12-20 (60%) at the free throw line.
            Guidinger poured in 20 points to lead Minnesota Crookston, the lone Golden Eagle in double figures.
            UMC shot 40 percent for the game making 28 of 70 shots.  The Golden Eagles were 6-17 from the 3-point line and 4 of 7 at the stripe.
            WSC held a 44-41 edge in rebounding over UMC with Norling grabbing eight boards to lead the Wildcats. 
            Wayne State had 20 turnovers in the game, resulting in a 26-12 advantage for UMC in points off turnovers.
The Wildcats close out their non-conference schedule with a makeup game at home Wednesday, hosting Mount Marty College at 6 p.m. in Rice Auditorium in a game that was postponed from late November due to bad weather.