Wayne State held Northwest Missouri State to just 26 percent shooting as the Wildcats edged the Bearcats 48-46 Saturday afternoon in the Central Region Showcase Women's Basketball Tournament played at Civic Arena in downtown St. Joseph, Missouri.  The Wildcats move to 2-0 on the season while NMSU slips to 1-3.
            For the second straight day, Wayne State held their opponent to under 30 percent field goal shooting limiting Emporia State to just 22 percent on Friday.
            Both teams struggled shooting in the opening quarter as WSC hit 4 of 14 shots while Northwest Missouri State was just 3 of 17 as the Bearcats held a 10-9 lead after 10 minutes of play.
            The shooting struggles continued in the second quarter, but WSC was able to hit 5 of 6 free throws outscoring the Bearcats 12-9 to grab a 21-19 lead at intermission.
            NMSU held a 16-14 lead with 6:05 to play in the second quarter, but the 'Cats used a Meg Rietz 3-pointer and two free throws each from Kylah vanDonkersgoed and Tenleigh Smith to grab a 21-16 lead until the Bearcats hit a 3-pointer right before halftime to make the score 21-19.
            WSC opened the third quarter with a pair of baskets by Rachel Dahlen to take a 25-19 advantage.  The 'Cats extended the lead to eight at 32-24 on a Rietz layup with 4:43 to play third quarter, but the Bearcats closed the deficit to just three at the end of the third quarter at 35-32.
            Early in the fourth quarter there were four lead changes with one tie, but WSC used a 13-4 run to grab a six-point lead and held off the Bearcats late for the 48-46 win.
            Trailing 38-37 with 7:36 to play, the 'Cats took the lead for good on Kelsey Willems' 3-pointer.  Treys by Ella Sharar and Rietz put the 'Cats ahead 48-42 with 2:11 remaining. 
            NSMU cut the lead to two at 48-46 with 1:15 to play.  Both teams missed baskets but WSC could not extend the lead on a pair of missed free throws with three seconds remaining.  NMSU had a 3-pointer miss in the final second and Wayne State held on for the win.
            Rietz and Dahlen each scored 10 points to lead Wayne State.  Willems added eight points and Sharar had six.
            WSC made 18 of 60 shots for 30 percent, going 6 of 15 from 3-point range and 6 of 12 at the charity stripe.
            For Northwest Missouri State, Kenzie Melcher scored 15 points.
            The Bearcats shot 26.2 percent making 17 of 65 shots and were 4 of 6 at the free throw line.
            Both teams had 44 rebounds in the game.  Dahlen had nine boards for WSC with Tenleigh Smith adding seven.
            Smith had four assists, Willems had two steals and Dahlen recorded two blocked shots.
            The Wildcats will play again Tuesday evening at William Jewell (Mo.) in a 5:30 p.m. contest.