A strong fourth quarter performance from #14 Minnesota State ruined the hopes of a Wayne State upset with a 94-80 final inside of Rice Auditorium Friday evening. MSU with the win moves to 20-3 on the season (16-3 NSIC) while WSC falls to 11-12 on the year (7-12 NSIC).
 
    The Wildcats came out hot shooting 68.8% in the first quarter (11-16) which they used to their advantage to build an early four-point lead at 8-4 with 7:44 left in the first quarter. The Mavericks would then battle back to take the lead at 10-8 before a 6-0 run would force a timeout from MSU at 12-10 in favor of WSC with 5:43 remaining in the first quarter. The two teams would continue to trade baskets before the Wildcats would build their largest lead of the game heading into the second quarter at 26-21.  Maya Fitzpatrick would score nine points for the Wildcats in the first quarter off of 3-4 shooting and two of two from the free throw line.
 
    Wayne State would continue right where they left off in the third quarter building their lead to eight behind a pass from Meg Reitz into a Lauren Zacharias layup to make it 30-22 Wildcats with 9:19 left in the second quarter. The Mavericks would then go on a 8-0 run of their own to tie the game back up at 30-30 with 8:32 left in the game. WSC would take a 32-30 lead into the media timeout. Wayne state would use a Logan Hughes three-pointer to get the lead back to seven before 10-4 run by MSU would cut the Wildcat lead back to one with 4:33 left in the half. The teams would trade baskets again with The Wildcats pulling back out in front by seven at 54-47 with 1:02 left in the half. MSU would pull back within three heading into the locker room with the Wildcats leading 54-51.
 
    The Wildcats would have three players in double figures at halftime with Fitzpatrick leading with 13 points. She was followed by Pingel with 11 and Ashley Gustavson with 10. WSC would shoot 67.9% in the first half and 63.6 percent from behind the arc.
 
     Wayne State would use the first four minutes of the third quarter to build their largest lead of the game at nine points behind a pull up jumper from Zacharias to make it 69-60 Wayne State with 6:16 left in the quarter. Wayne State would go up as many as 10 before Minnesota State would use a 7-0 run to get back within three at 72-69 with 2:21 left to play in the third quarter. The teams would trade baskets the rest of the half with the Mavericks taking a one-point lead into the fourth quarter at 76-75.
 
    Wayne State would go cold in the fourth quarter going 1-10 from the field behind a pressing defense from the Mavericks that produced nine Wildcat turnovers. MSU would open the fourth quarter on a 11-0 run to have their biggest lead of the game at 87-75. MSU would then go on to win the game 94-80.
    
    Pingel was the leading scorer for the 'Cats with 20 points in the contest while adding six rebounds. Also in double figures was Fitzpatrick with 15, Hughes with 14, Zacharias with 13 and Gustavson with 13. Gustavson's 13 points was a career high in the loss.  
 
    The 'Cats would shoot a season high 52.9% in the loss (27-51) while the Mavericks shot 51.4% from the field (38-74). The Mavericks would force 28 wildcat turnovers and turn it into 37 points. The Wildcats forced 14 Maverick turnovers in the loss.

    Wayne State will be back in action tomorrow night at 5:30 p.m. when they host Concordia-St. Paul on senior night inside Rice Auditorium.