Box Score Minot State 71 Wayne State 70

            Despite holding the lead for nearly 35 minutes of the contest, host Minot State rallied in the final two minutes and shocked Wayne State on the game-winning basket with 8.9 seconds to play handing the Wildcats a heartbreaking 71-70 loss in Northern Sun Conference women's basketball Saturday evening at the Minot Dome in Minot, North Dakota.  WSC drops to 7-8 on the season and 4-7 in the NSIC South Division while the host Beavers improve to 6-10 and 4-5 in the NSIC North Division.
            The Wildcats shook off a slow start, trailing 6-1 early, and scored eight of the next 10 points to grab their first lead of the game at 9-8.  After a Minot State 3-pointer put the Beavers back in front 11-9, WSC scored seven straight points and took the lead for good at 16-11 following an Avery Kallman offensive rebound and putback at the 2:30 mark.  The Wildcats closed the first quarter with a 21-18 lead.
            Baskets by Abby Kopecky and Logan Hughes to open the second quarter gave the 'Cats a 25-18 advantage. 
            Wayne State maintained the lead the rest of the second quarter with Minot State draining a 3-pointer just before halftime to cut the Wildcat lead to two at intermission, 33-31.
            The third quarter saw Minot State close within one point several times, but WSC answered each Beaver run to remain in front.
            After Minot State cut the WSC lead to 44-43 at the 4:45 mark, the 'Cats got back-to-back baskets from Maya Fitzpatrick and another from Kassidy Pingel to push the lead back to seven at 50-43.  The host Beavers rallied again and got as close as two, 50-48, before WSC closed the quarter with a 55-48 lead.
            Early in the fourth quarter, five straight points by senior guard Kylie Hammer on a three-point play and layup gave the 'Cats a 64-56 lead with six minutes remaining.
            Minot State charged back once again, scoring eight of the next nine points to get within one at 65-64.
            A 3-pointer from Zacharias and layin by Hammer had WSC leading 70-66 with 2:37 to play.  But those would be the last points scored by the Wildcats.
            WSC had two turnovers and missed their final four shots down the stretch and Minot State rallied, hitting the go-ahead shot with 8.9 seconds remaining to take their first lead since the 4:34 mark of the first quarter, as the host Beavers stunned the Wildcats with the late finish.
            WSC had a chance to win the game, but a layup by Hammer was missed along with a putback by Hughes as time expired.
            Wayne State finished the game making 28 of 68 shots for 41.2 percent, going 4-17 behind the arc.  The 'Cats were 10-13 (76.9%) at the charity stripe.
            Hammer had 17 points to lead four Wildcats in double figures.  Hughes added 13 points while Fitzpatrick and Zacharias chipped in with 11 and 10 points respectively.
            Amber Stevahn paced Minot State with a game-high 25 points, including the game-winning shot with 8.9 to play.  Janie Wunderlich also hit double digits with 10.
            Minot State was 26-60 shooting for 43 percent, including 7-24 behind the arc.  The Beavers were 12-17 at the foul line.
            WSC held a 43-31 edge in rebounding with a season-high 16 offensive rebounds.  Fitzpatrick grabbed eight boards for the 'Cats followed by Zacharias and Pingel with seven each.
            The Wildcats will be at home next weekend, hosting St. Cloud State Friday at 5:30 p.m. and Minnesota Duluth Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in Rice Auditorium.