Wayne State shot just 32 percent in the second half as MSU Moorhead downed the Wildcats 63-53 in a Northern Sun Conference women's basketball game played Saturday evening at Nemzek Fieldhouse in Moorhead, Minnesota.  MSUM is now 9-11 and 7-7 in the league while WSC drops to 9-9 and 6-8 in NSIC games.
            The 'Cats got off to a strong start, making 7 of 14 shots to open the game taking a 17-13 lead after one quarter.
            WSC led by as many as six in the opening quarter at 15-9 following a Delaney Clark 3-pointer with 1:48 to go in the quarter.
            Wayne State maintained the lead for much of the second quarter until late.  A Tate Norblade layup at the 7:18 mark put WSC ahead 21-15.  After MSUM tied the score at 26-26, Norblade and Carsyn Boswell made baskets giving the 'Cats a 30-26 lead until the host Dragons closed the quarter with the final five points for a 31-30 lead at intermission.
            The Wildcats held the lead for the first part of the third quarter until a scoring surge by the Dragons that gave MSU Moorhead the lead for good.
            Wayne sophomore Brooklyn Kruse converted a layup with 5:41 left in the quarter for a 38-36 WSC lead.  It would be the final Wildcat advantage of the night as the Dragons went on a 12-3 run and closed the quarter with a 48-43 lead.
            Norblade opened the fourth quarter with a layup for the 'Cats cutting the Dragon cushion to 48-45. 
            The Wildcats went the next 6:45 without a basket and scored just one point as MSU Moorhead built a 55-46 lead.
            Meg Rietz hit a 3-pointer to get WSC within six at 55-49, but the 'Cats had to foul late and the Dragons converted 9 of 12 free throws late in the game to preserve a 63-53 win.
            Wayne State's top scorer was Norblade with 15 points while Boswell also hit double figures with 10.
            WSC was 22 of 57 from the field for 38.6 percent, including 7 for 26 behind the arc, while going 2-4 at the line.
            Abby Berge poured in 15 points for MSU Moorhead with Terryn Johnson adding 13 and Natalie Jens 12.
            MSUM shot 41.8 percent connecting on 23 of 55 shots.  The Dragons were 3 of 14 from the 3-point line and 14 of 21 at the free throw line. 
            MSU Moorhead held a sizeable 43-27 cushion in rebounding as Kylah vanDonkersgoed had six boards for WSC.  Maya Fitzpatrick had three assists, two steals and two blocks for WSC while vanDonkersgoed added three assists and two blocks. 
            Wayne State returns to Rice Auditorium Thursday evening hosting the University of Sioux Falls in an NSIC game starting at 7:30 p.m.