WAYNE, Neb.- The Southwest Minnesota State women’s basketball team (6-7, 1-7 NSIC) fell 79-62 in final game of the weekend to Wayne State (10-4, 5-3 NSIC) on Saturday afternoon in the Rice Auditorium.

The Mustangs shot 34 percent from the field (21-of-61) and 11 percent from the three-point line (2-of-17) while the Wildcats recorded 45 percent shooting from the field (30-of-67) and 38 percent from the three-point line (8-of-21).

The Wildcats strong-shooting was led by WSC’s Erin Norling, who finished with a game-high 21 points.

The Mustangs were led in scoring by the even-matched efforts of Abuk Akoi and Meleah Reinhart who each finished with 15 points. Reinhart also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.

Both teams were scoreless for the opening first minutes before the WSC’s Halley Busse went on the board to put the Wildcats up just one basket.

A basket from Sara Teske would then do the same for the Mustangs but for only seconds as the Wildcats would regain the lead, and would maintain the edge, for the remainder of the first half.

The Wildcats used a 28-point opening quarter to hold on to lead to head into the second half with a 45-36 advantage.

The Wildcats took control of the game in the second half to maintain the lead with a 24-14 advantage in points off turnovers and 22-to-13 in points from the bench.

Southwest Minnesota State will return home Jan. 10-11 to face Concordia-St. Paul at 5:30 p.m. on Friday night and Minnesota State on Saturday at 4 p.m., both in the R/A Facility.

— Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications