Wayne State 72 Newman 65

            Wayne State had four players score in double figures and used a 23-13 fourth quarter to rally for a 72-65 victory at Newman University in Kansas in the women's college basketball opener for both teams Saturday afternoon in Wichita, Kansas.
            The host Jets took an early 11-6 lead on the Wildcats, but WSC scored nine of the final 11 points of the quarter and turned a 15-11 deficit into a 20-17 advantage.
            WSC held the lead for the entire second quarter, building a nine-point lead at 31-22, and outscored Newman 18-13 in the quarter to hold a 38-30 lead at intermission.  The Wildcat forced eight turnovers in the quarter with 10 of their 18 points in the quarter scored off Jet turnovers.
            Newman came out strong in the third quarter and made 9 of 14 shots including 4 for 5 behind the arc and outscored the 'Cats 22-11 to grab a 52-49 lead entering the final stanza.  WSC was just 4 of 14 from the field and 0 for 7 from the 3-point line in the cold-shooting third quarter.
            The Jets made the first basket of the fourth quarter to take a 54-49 lead.  Newman still led 55-52 with 8:53 to play, but WSC used baskets from Kassidy Pingel, Kylie Hammer and Lauren Zacharias to take the lead for good at 58-55.
            Newman closed within 58-57 on a basket with 7:00 to go, but WSC took control scoring the next eight points for a 66-57 lead with 1:40 remaining.
            The final 100 seconds was a free throw shooting contest as WSC secured the win going 9 of 13 from the line in the fourth quarter for the 72-65 victory.
            Hammer led four Wildcats in double figures with 21 points, including 8 of 10 at the foul line.  Zacharias followed with 15 points on 6 of 11 shooting.  Pingel recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds while Logan Hughes also hit double digits with 11 points.
            WSC made 24 of 62 shots in the game for 38.7 percent, but was just 3 for 18 behind the arc.  The Wildcats were 21 of 27 at the free throw line.
            Tiffany Dortland scored a game-high 27 points for Newman.  Faith Mason-Vestal added 10 points for the Jets.
            Newman was 25 of 63 from the field for 39.7 percent, 9 of 26 from the 3-point line and 6 of 10 at the line.
            WSC won the rebounding battle 42-33 thanks to Pingel's 11 boards followed by Hughes and Hammer with seven apiece.  Newman had two more turnovers than WSC, 20-18, but the Wildcats held a sizeable 28-9 edge in points off turnovers. 
            Zacharias had four steals for the 'Cats while Hammer handed out three assists.
            The next action for the Wildcats will be Thursday and Friday as Wayne State hosts Chadron State Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the home opener at Rice Auditorium followed by a 5:30 p.m. game Friday vs. Black Hills State.