Wayne State denied Sioux Falls on the final possession of the game as the Wildcats won a back-and-forth 72-70 contest over the Cougars Thursday evening in a Northern Sun Conference women's basketball game played at the Stewart Center in Sioux Falls.  The 'Cats pick up a win against USF for just the second time in the last 13 meetings, improving to 5-5 and 2-4 in the league, while the Cougars are now 6-7 and 2-4 in NSIC play.
            The game saw 15 lead changes and five ties between the two clubs.  Early on it was all Sioux Falls, who jumped out to leads of 8-1 and 10-4.
            Wayne State battled back and took their first lead at 13-12 on a Carsyn Boswell 3-pointer with 3:24 left in the quarter.  After USF took a 17-16 lead, the 'Cats closed the quarter with a pair of Boswell free throws and a Tate Norblade layup to take a 20-17 lead.
            The Wildcats held the lead for the entire second quarter.  WSC was in front 24-22 and used a 9-1 scoring streak to take a 33-23 lead following a Norblade layup.  The Cougars responded with nine straight points to cut the Wildcat advantage to one at 33-32 until a Delaney Clark trey with 1:19 left in the quarter gave Wayne State a 36-32 halftime lead.
            The third quarter featured six lead changes and four ties with WSC using a late scoring run to close the quarter to maintain the lead.
            Another Clark 3-pointer gave the 'Cats a 47-43 lead at the 4:10 mark of the third quarter, but the Cougars scored seven straight points to grab a 50-47 advantage just 90 seconds later. 
            But WSC closed the quarter strong and used a layup from Kylah vanDonkersgoed along with 3-pointers by Clark and vanDonkersgoed to close the third in front 57-52.
            The fourth quarter saw six more lead changes between the two clubs.  WSC led until USF grabbed a 60-59 lead with 6:39 to play.  The two teams traded baskets until WSC scored six straight points to take a 69-64 lead thanks to baskets from Boswell, Brooklyn Kruse and vanDonkersgoed.
            Sioux Falls cut the WSC deficit to one at 71-70.  After a USF turnover, WSC missed a shot to go up three but an offensive rebound by Clark resulted in a pair of free throws with eight seconds to play.  She made the first to give the 'Cats a 72-70 lead. 
            Following a USF timeout, the Cougars set up for the game-tying shot but a layup from the right side of the basket came up short and the Wildcats held on for the 72-70 road win.
            Wayne State's top scorer was vanDonkersgoed with 17 points.  Norblade added 16, Clark had 13 and Kruse finished with 10 points.
            WSC made 25 of 61 shots for 41 percent, going 8 for 26 behind the arc.  The 'Cats were 14 for 20 at the line.
            Aby Phipps scored a game-high 21 points for Sioux Falls.  Anna Vaaler chipped in 16 and Kami Wadsworth had 15.  USF was 25 of 58 shooting for 43.1 percent.  The Cougars connected on 4 of 14 3-pointers and 16 for 20 free throws.
            Sioux Falls won the rebounding battle over WSC 36-29 with Clark grabbing eight boards to lead the 'Cats.
            Fitzpatrick had four assists while vanDonkersgoed recorded two blocks for WSC.
            The Wildcats will be at home Saturday afternoon to play their final game before the holiday break hosting Augustana at 3:30 p.m. in Rice Auditorium.