Wayne State shot a season-low 20 percent from the field in falling at home Thursday evening to the University of Sioux Falls 54-39 in Northern Sun Conference women's basketball at Rice Auditorium. The Wildcats slip to 9-10 and 6-9 in the league while Sioux Falls moves to 13-9 and 9-6 in the league.
Neither team shot the ball well to open the game while trading four lead changes and three ties with Sioux Falls holding a 12-8 lead after one quarter.
Delaney Clark hit back-to-back 3-pointers to open the second quarter, giving the 'Cats a 14-12 lead. But WSC went over six minutes without a basket as Sioux Falls built a 22-15 lead before closing the half with a 26-19 advantage.
Wayne State opened the third quarter with three baskets in the first 1:40 to cut the Cougar lead to one at 27-26 following a
Maya Fitzpatrick layup.
Her basket at the 8:21 mark of the third quarter would be Wayne State's last basket of the game.
Four free throws by Fitzpatrick knotted the score at 30-30 with 5:39 to play in the third quarter and WSC never scored again in the quarter as USF took a 37-30 lead.
Free throws kept WSC within reach early in the fourth quarter as WSC trailed by three at 40-37 with 4:38 remaining. The 'Cats went 0 for 13 from the field and 0 for 8 behind the arc in the final quarter as Sioux Falls pulled away for a 54-39 win.
Fitzpatrick was the lone Wildcat in double figures with 11 points.
WSC ended the night making 10 of 49 shots for 20.4 percent. The 'Cats hit 3 of 24 from the 3-point line and 16 for 24 at the free throw line.
Kami Wadsworth poured in 17 points for Sioux Falls followed by Aby Phipps with 11.
USF shot only 32 percent making 16 of 50 shots, including 4 of 16 from 3-point range, and 18 of 22 at the line.
Sioux Falls held a 39-36 edge in rebounding over WSC as
Tate Norblade grabbed nine boards for the 'Cats.
Wayne State's next game is Saturday afternoon when the Wildcats visit Augustana for a 2 p.m. contest.
