Minot State used 62 percent shooting in the first quarter (10-16) to jump out to an early lead and the host Beavers never trailed again in defeating Wayne State 69-59 Saturday afternoon in Northern Sun Conference women's basketball played at the Minot Dome in Minot, North Dakota.  Minot State is now 10-19 and 9-13 in the NSIC while WSC falls to 11-15 and 8-14 in league play.
            The 'Cats started strong, using a pair of 3-pointers from Carsyn Boswell and another from Maya Fitzpatrick, to take an early 9-4 lead. 
            That lead quickly dissipated as the host Beavers grabbed a 17-12 lead with 1:55 to play in the first quarter and finished with a 23-15 first quarter lead.  Minot State made 10 of 16 shots to open the game.
            The host Beavers held several leads of double digits in the second quarter, but WSC rallied and got as close as four at 31-27 with 1:26 to play in the half after consecutive baskets from Meg Rietz before Minot State closed the half with a 37-29 lead.
            Minot State scored the first five points of the third quarter to take their biggest lead of the quarter at 42-29. 
            A Maya Fitzpatrick three-point play with 2:03 to play in the third quarter cut the Minto State lead to 49-43, but the host Beavers pushed the lead back to 13 before closing the quarter with a 56-44 advantage.
            WSC wasn't able to make up much ground on Minot State in the fourth quarter, getting as close as eight, as the host Beavers closed with a 69-59 win over the Wildcats.
            Senior Maya Fitzpatrick led Wayne State in scoring with 13 points followed by Boswell with 11. 
            Wayne State made 24 of 56 shots for 42.9 percent, going 6 of 21 behind the arc and 5 for 11 at the free throw line.
            Emma Mogen scored a game-high 24 points for Minot State.  Also reaching double figures were Jessica Mogen and Katie Aberle with 11 points apiece.
            Minot State shot 46.4 percent making 26 of 56 shots.  The Beavers were 7 for 20 behind the arc and 10 for 12 at the line.
            The host Beavers had one more rebound than WSC 32-31.  Meg Rietz grabbed seven boards for WSC with Kylah vanDonkersgoed adding six.  Rietz had a team-high four assists while Fitzpatrick had three steals and two blocks.
            The Wildcats await pairings for the first round of the NSIC Women's Basketball Tournament Wednesday evening at a site to be determined.