After shooting just 20 percent in the opening half, Wayne State used 62 percent (15-24) shooting in the second half to rally from an eight-point halftime deficit as the Wildcats rolled past Minot State 63-45 in a Northern Sun Conference women's basketball contest played Friday evening at Rice Auditorium in Wayne.  The Wildcats move to 9-7 and 6-6 in the NSIC with the win while Minot State falls to 4-14 and 3-8 in league play.
            Wayne State got off to a slow start in the contest, trailing 10-2 in the opening period before cutting the deficit to 15-12 at the end of the first quarter.
            The second quarter saw the Wildcats struggle from the floor, making just 2 of 14 shots, as neither team scored in the final 3:14 of the quarter with Minot State holding a 26-18 lead at intermission.
            It didn't take long for the Wildcats to respond in the third quarter as WSC turned an early 28-18 deficit into a 30-30 tie at the 6:31 mark of the third quarter.  Tate Norblade and Meg Rietz hit back-to-back treys followed by a Maya Fitzpatrick basket to tie the score.
            Wayne sophomore Brooklyn Kruse made one of two free throws to give WSC its first lead of the game at 31-30 with 4:34 to play in the third quarter. 
            With WSC leading 39-35, the 'Cats used baskets by Kylah vanDonkersgoed and Maya Fitzpatrick along with a 3-pointer from Norblade to end the quarter giving Wayne State a 46-35 lead.
            The strong shooting continued for the 'Cats in the fourth quarter making 5 of 9 shots and 5 of 6 free throws as the 'Cats held a double digit lead the rest of the way to finish with a 63-45 victory.
            Norblade paced Wayne State in scoring with 14 points followed by vanDonkersgoed with 12 and Delaney Clark 11.
            Wayne State made 21 of 53 shots for 39.6 percent, going 7 of 21 from 3-point range, and 14 for 16 at the free throw line.
            Maya Aguilar had 13 points for Minot State with Emma Mogen scoring 11 and Jessica Mogen 10.
            Minot State shot 30.2 percent making 16 for 53 from the field.  The Beavers were 4 of 25 behind the arc and 9 of 17 at the free throw line.
            WSC held a 41-32 edge in rebounding over Minot State as vanDonkersgoed grabbed eight boards and Norblade seven.  Norblade recorded six assists and three steals for the 'Cats as Wayne State's bench outscored Minot State 25-4.
            The Wildcats hit the road next weekend for NSIC games at Minnesota Crookston Friday at 7:30 p.m. and at MSU Moorhead Saturday for a 5:30 p.m. contest.