Wayne State used 51 percent shooting to battle #1 Minnesota State to the end, but could not overcome 35 turnovers as the Wildcats fell 77-71 to the Mavericks in Northern Sun Conference South Division women's basketball Saturday afternoon at Rice Auditorium in Wayne.  WSC drops to 10-16 and 5-15 in the league while Minnesota State improves to 26-0 and 20-0 in NSIC play.
            The Wildcats outshot Minnesota State in the opening quarter, but 6 of 12 shooting by WSC could not offset 13 first quarter turnovers as the Mavericks took a 20-14 lead.
            After Minnesota State opened the second quarter strong and grabbed an 11-point lead (25-14), WSC scored seven straight points and got within four at 25-21 following a Cassie Allen 3-pointer.  The Mavericks stormed back and pushed the lead to 13 (37-24) but the 'Cats closed the quarter strong and cut the MSU advantage to six at intermission 44-38.
            Wayne State held MSU to just 21 percent shooting (4-19) in the third quarter, but the Mavericks hit 11 of 16 free throws in the quarter and built their biggest lead at 15 (59-44) with 4:18 to play in the quarter.  Meanwhile, WSC made 6 of 9 shots in the quarter and reduced the Maverick advantage to 10 (64-54) heading into the fourth quarter.
            The Wildcats took care of the basketball in the fourth quarter with just two turnovers to stay within reach of the unbeaten Mavericks.  After MSU took a 13-point lead at the 8:33 mark (69-56), WSC rallied again and used a Kelsey Willems 3-pointer with 4:56 remaining to make it a 71-64 contest.
            Minnesota State pushed the lead back to 10 at 76-66 with 1:47 to play, but WSC got a 3-pointer from Kylah vanDonkersgoed and a Rachel Dahlen basket to pull within five at 76-71 with 43 seconds to play before Minnesota State closed with the final 77-71 victory.
            vanDonkersgoed led Wayne State in scoring with 15 points followed by Tenleigh Smith with 14 and Dahlen 13.
            Wayne State shot a season-high in league play, making 26 of 51 shots for 51 percent.  The 'Cats hit 7 of 19 behind the arc and were 12-18 at the free throw line.
            Natalie Bremer had 23 points for Minnesota State.  Ava Stier chipped in 14 and Haylee Stokes had 11.
            Minnesota State shot 39.4 percent for the game making 26 of 66 shots.  The Mavericks were 7-16 from the 3-point line and 18-27 at the charity stripe.
            WSC held a slight 37-33 advantage in rebounding as vanDonkersgoed hauled in nine boards followed by Dahlen with seven.  Smith had five assists with Willems recording three steals and Emma Frost notching three blocked shots.
            Minnesota State held a 38-19 edge in points off turnovers while WSC was a 34-32 leader on points in the paint. 
            The Wildcats play their final NSIC road game Wednesday evening traveling to the University of Sioux Falls at 5:30 p.m.