Box Score Wayne State 84 Mount Marty 73

            Freshman guard Lauren Zacharias scored a season-high 17 points to help offset 10 3-pointers from Mount Marty College as the Wildcats closed non-conference play with a 84-73 women's basketball win over the Lancers Wednesday evening at Rice Auditorium in Wayne.  It was the 47^th consecutive non-conference home win for WSC dating back to November, 2008, moving WSC to 8-3 on the season.  The game was an exhibition contest for 7-5 Mount Marty.
            The story of the first half was the hot shooting of Mount Marty, who led for a majority of the half.
            The Lancers scorched the nets for 11 of 16 shooting in the first quarter, including 6 of 8 behind the arc, and built a 30-16 lead over the Wildcats after 10 minutes of play.
            Mount Marty continued their stellar shooting for most of the second quarter and held a 35-23 lead at the 5:20 mark when the Wildcats began their comeback.
            WSC scored the next 12 points and tied the score at 35-35 on a 3-pointer from Zacharias. 
            But the Lancers responded and closed the half with a 46-42 lead.
            Wayne State opened the third quarter on a 13-0 run to take the lead for good, but still had their hands full most of the night with the pesky Lancers.
            The Wildcats scored 13 points in the first 4:30 of the third quarter to take a 55-46 lead. 
            WSC took their first double digit lead of the game at 59-49 following a Kylie Hammer free throw with 2:29 to play in the third quarter and finished the quarter leading 62-54.
            Wayne State held a double digit lead for much of the fourth quarter, leading by as many as 17 points (82-65) before finishing with an 84-73 win.
            Junior forward Erin Norling led four Wildcat players in double figures with 19 points and now has 983 points in her Wildcat career. 
            Zacharias followed with a season-high 17 points going 5 of 10 from the field and 3 for 6 behind the arc.  Brittany Bongartz and Halley Busse also hit double figures with 15 and 10 respectively.
            Wayne State ended the game making 29 of 66 shots for 43.9 percent that included 7 of 19 behind the arc.  The Wildcats were 19 for 29 at the free throw line for 65.5 percent.
            Molly Koisti had 14 points for Mount Marty followed by Ali Kuca with 13.  Jamie Tebben (12) and Hannah Williams (10) also reached double digits for the Lancers.
            MMC made 22 of 55 from the field for 40 percent and was 10 for 25 from 3-point range while making 19 of 22 at the charity stripe.
            WSC held a 42-35 advantage in rebounding over the Lancers with Norling grabbing seven boards for the 'Cats.  She also had seven of Wayne State's 22 assists in the win with Zacharias adding five. 
            The Wildcats will close out the pre-Christmas schedule Saturday afternoon with a NSIC South Division contest at Augustana University starting at 3:30 p.m.