Redshirt junior guard Kelsey Willem's first career double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds led three Wayne State players in double figures as the Wildcats defeated Bemidji State 61-50 Saturday afternoon in Northern Sun Conference women's basketball played at Rice Auditorium in Wayne.  Both teams are now 5-11 in NSIC play while WSC improves to 10-12 overall and BSU slips to 8-12.
            The two teams traded a pair of leads and ties early to open the game, then Wayne State went on a 13-2 scoring surge turning a 7-6 deficit into a 19-9 lead with 2:03 left in the first quarter before finishing with a 19-11 lead.
            WSC made 9 of 16 shots to start the game with Rachel Dahlen scoring a team-high six points in the first quarter.
            Wayne State's full court press caused problems for Bemidji State as the "Cats forced seven more turnovers in the second quarter, helping the 'Cats outscore the Beavers 17-9 in the quarter to take a sizeable 36-20 lead at intermission.
            Six different Wildcats scored in the quarter, led by Lily Fitzgerald with four points and three rebounds.
            The Wildcats maintained a double-digit advantage in the third quarter despite BSU holding a 17-13 scoring edge.
            After WSC took their biggest lead of the game at 19 (44-25) on a Rachel Dahlen layup, slowly cut into the lead and got within 10 several times before WSC closed the quarter with a 49-37 lead.
            Wayne State increased the lead to 14 early in the fourth quarter at 51-37, but BSU rallied and hit several 3-pointers to get within seven at 51-44. 
            Later in the quarter, Bemidji State got as close as six at 54-48 with 2:52 remaining but the 'Cats got baskets from Willems and a three-point play by Kylah vanDonkersgoed to push the advantage back to 11 and WSC ended with the 61-50 win.
            Willems had 13 points with 10 rebounds for her first-ever double-double to lead WSC in scoring.  vanDonkersgoed also had 13 points with Dahlen closing the night with 10.
            Wayne State made 23 of 53 shots for 43.4 percent, including 5 of 12 from the 3-point line, while going 10 of 11 at the stripe.
            Tieryn Plasch had 14 points for Bemidji State's only double-digit scorer.
            BSU was 15 for 49 from the field for 30.6 percent and made 6 of 25 from behind the arc to go with 14 for 21 at the free throw line.
            WSC held a 40-30 advantage in rebounding thanks to 10 boards from Willems and six by Fitzgerald.
            Tenleigh Smith, Meg Rietz and Emma Frost each had three assists while Willems accounted for three steals. 
            The Wildcats are on the road next weekend for NSIC South Division games visiting Winona State Thursday at 5:30 p.m. and Concordia-St. Paul Saturday at 1 p.m.