Wayne State 74 Southwest Minnesota State 60

            Wayne State broke open a close game by outscoring Southwest Minnesota State 32-19 in the third quarter as the Wildcats defeated the Mustangs 74-60 Friday evening in a Northern Sun Conference South Division women's basketball game played in Rice Auditorium.  WSC improves to 6-7 and 5-6 in the NSIC South Division while the Mustangs slip to 7-4 and 5-4 in the division.
            Both teams struggled in the first quarter shooting the ball as SMSU held WSC to just 5 of 16 (31%) and the Mustangs held a 14-12 lead after 10 minutes.
            The poor shooting continued in the second quarter that saw five lead changes and two ties.  The Wildcats used an Erin Norling basket to end the half, capping a 4-12 second quarter shooting for the Wildcats, that gave WSC a 29-28 lead at halftime.
            The game was still close midway through the third quarter when WSC went on a scoring blitz that put the game away.
            WSC held a 42-40 lead at the 5:02 mark of the third quarter, then scored 13 points in just under two minutes to grab a commanding 55-40 lead.  Halley Busse hit a 3-pointer, followed by a Norling basket.  A Busse 3-pointer and a layup followed by a Norling trey capped the scoring run allowing WSC to take control of the game.
            Wayne State finished the third quarter making 11 of 17 shots (64.7%) and grabbed a 61-47 lead.
            SMSU got within eight several times in the fourth quarter but WSC also pushed the lead back to double figures and closed with a 74-60 win.
            Busse scored a season-high 28 points to lead Wayne State, going 5-10 behind the arc and 9-17 overall in the game.  Norling followed with 25 points on 9 of 14 shooting while sophomore Kassidy Pingel came off the bench to score a career-high 12 points on 4 of 7 shooting and 3 for 4 at the line.
            WSC ended the game making 24 of 56 shots for 42.9 percent and hit 7 for 24 from the 3-point line.  The 'Cats drained 19 of 25 free throws for 76 percent.
            Jenna Borchers scored 14 points with Meleah Reinhart adding 13 for SMSU.  The Mustangs shot 20 of 56 from the field for 35.7 percent including 9 of 24 behind the arc.  SMSU was 11-15 at the line.
            WSC forced 21 SMSU turnovers while having just 11, resulting in a 25-10 edge in points off turnovers.
            SMSU won the rebounding battle 43-32 with 17 offensive rebounds.  Norling hauled in nine boards for the 'Cats while Kylie Hammer and Pingel each had six. 
            Busse handed out six assists with Hammer adding five. 
            WSC and SMSU conclude the two-game weekend series Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. in Rice Auditorium.