The University of Mary opened the game making 9 of 12 shots and finished the game shooting 50 percent as the Marauders defeated Wayne State 73-40 in a Northern Sun Conference women's basketball game Saturday evening at the McDowell Activity Center in Bismarck, North Dakota. UMary improves to 11-7 and 7-3 in league games while the Wildcats drop to 4-10 and 1-10 in NSIC contests.
The host Marauders started the game strong, making 9 of 12 shots in the opening stanza, to take a 24-12 lead on the Wildcats.
Wayne State was able to match the hot shooting by the Marauders in the second quarter, making 6 of 11 shots for 54.5 percent. But UMary still made 6 of 12 shots and outscored the 'Cats 20-15 in the second quarter to take a sizeable 44-27 lead.
Both teams cooled down in the third quarter as UMary made just 3 of 9 shots while WSC hit just 3 of 14 attempts and the Marauders held a 59-35 advantage.
UMary held the Wildcats to just two baskets in the fourth quarter as the Marauders held a 14-5 scoring edge in the final quarter to close the game with a 73-40 victory.
Carsyn Boswell was the top scorer for Wayne State with seven points on 3 of 6 shooting.
Wayne State made 16 of 51 shots in the contest for 31.4 percent. The 'Cats were 1 of 12 behind the arc and 7 for 15 at the free throw line.
Lexie Schneider led UMary with a game-high 24 points. Mariah McKeever (13) and Megan Zander (12) also reached double digits for the Marauders.
UMary shot an even 50 percent from the field making 23 of 46 shots. The Marauders were 7 for 18 from 3-point range and sank 20 of 22 free throws for 90 percent.
The Marauders won the rebounding battle over WSC 38-25.
Abby Kopecky and
Kylah vanDonkersgoed each had four rebounds for the 'Cats while vanDonkersgoed handed out a team-high four assists.
Wayne State is on the road again next weekend, playing at St. Cloud State Friday at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday at Bemidji State in a 3:30 p.m. contest.
