Wayne's World

Wolves Let on Slip Away in Wayne

Wayne, Neb. - Northern State (8-3, 0-1 NSIC) led by three points with under a minute to go, but a key turnover and a blown defensive assignment gave Wayne State (11-2, 1-0 NSIC) the final four points a 61-60 come from behind win on the opening night of the NSIC season for both teams in Wayne, Neb.

Wayne State threw up a desperation three with under thirty second to down three. The shot was an air-ball and landed in the waiting hands of Kylee McGill who put the rebound back in uncontested. If the ball had struck rim the Wolves would have had a greater opportunity to rebound the shot. McGill scored four of her six points in the final thirty seconds of the game.

After a Wolves turnover on their next possession, McGill found herself open again in the Wolves zone and hit a baseline jumper with eight seconds left to give Wayne the lead at 61-60.

The game was back and fourth throughout as there were ten lead changes and multiple runs by both teams.

The first half started out with Wayne State hitting 9 of 16 shots from the field, including 4 of 7 from three point range as they opened up a 22-18 lead with 9:19 left in the first half. From there the Wildcats went ice cold as they were 1 of 15 from the field the rest of the way, including 0 of 7 from three point range. The Wolves did not take advantage as they were only able to tie the score at 27 at the half as they were 3 of 15 during that time. Wildcats standout center Kristen Humphries had to sit the last 6:01 of the first half as she picked up her second foul; prior to that she had scored eight points and four rebounds.

Wayne State went on a 12-0 run from the 14:23 to 9:33 mark of the second half to take a 50-42 lead. The Wolves countered with a 13-5 run of their own to tie the game at 55 with 3:14 to go. The Wolves lead three with 00:37 second left, but a offensive rebound after a wild three pointer, a Wolves turnover and a defensive mishap gave the Wildcats the win.

The Wolves were led by Noelle Hall (So., C, Altura, Minn.) who scored a game high 20 points on 9 of 20 shooting. Hall surpassed 500 points in her career as she now has 506 in one plus years of play. Miranda Boepple (Jr., F, Dickinson, N.D.) collected her fifth double double of her career as she finished with 11 points and ten rebounds. Boepple did struggle from the field as went 2 of 10 as from the floor. Ali Chmielewski (Sr., F, Foley, Minn.) and Carolin Becker (Jr., F, Beulah, N.D.) both added 12 to the Wolves attack.

The Wolves shot only 3 of 14 (21.4%) from three point range on the night while the Wildcats were 7 of 23 (30.4%), but the Wolves did out rebound the Wildcats 49 to 33 and 18 to 8 on the offensive end. The Wolves turned the ball over 18 times in the game, 13 of them on steals by the Wildcats. The Wildcats had only 11 turnovers in the game.

The Wolves continue NSIC play tomorrow night when they take on SW Minnesota State (3-9, 0-1 NSIC) at 6:00 p.m. in Marshall, Minn. Wayne State will host MSU Moorhead (6-6, 1-0 NSIC) at the same time.

Press Notes