Box Score             Winona State scored the final nine points of the game in the last 2:44 to win a defensive battle over Wayne State 49-40 Saturday afternoon in Northern Sun Conference women's basketball at Rice Auditorium in Wayne.  WSC slips to 6-7 overall and 1-6 in the NSIC while the visiting Warriors move to 9-4 and 6-1 in the league.
            Wayne State held early leads in the first quarter at 8-4 and 12-9 after a Rachel Dahlen jumper with 5:20 to go in the first quarter.  
            Winona State rallied in the final five minutes of the quarter and made 6 of 12 shots from the field to take a 17-15 lead after the opening 10 minutes.
            Both teams struggled shooting the ball in the second quarter as Winona State hit just 2 of 10 shots and WSC made just 2 of 15 as the Warriors held an 8-4 scoring advantage in the quarter to take a 25-19 lead at halftime. 
            WSC opened the third quarter with a Kylah vanDonkersgoed 3-pointer to cut the Warrior lead to 25-22, but the Warriors scored the next six points to go back up nine at 31-22 and closed the third quarter with a 35-28 lead.
            After Winona State opened the fourth quarter with a basket to take a 37-28 lead, WSC scored seven straight points and got within two at 37-35 following baskets by Meg Rietz and Rachel Dahlen along with a 3-pointer from Kelsey Willems with 5:21 remaining.  
           WSU pushed the lead back to five at 40-35, but an Emma Frost 3-pointer and Dahlen layup with 2:44 remaining knotted the score at 40-40.
            The Warriors then scored the final nine points of the game and finished with a 49-40 win.
            Dahlen was the lone Wildcat player in double figures with 14 points.  She also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
            Wayne State made 16 of 59 shots for 27 percent.  The 'Cats hit just 3 of 30 from the 3-point line and were 5 for 7 at the free throw line.
            Vivica Bretton accounted for 18 points to lead Winona State with Hailey Markworth chipping in 17 points and 11 rebounds.
            Winona State shot 34 percent making 16 of 47 shots.  The Warriors were 1 of 11 behind the arc and 16 for 18 at the charity stripe.
            Winona State won the rebounding battle over the Wildcats 42-34.  Willems had five assists and two steals for WSC while Dahlen recorded two blocked shots.
            Wayne State resumes play following the holiday break on Saturday, January 3 visiting Augustana.