Becker - Regis Wrecker

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Carolin Becker Scores Career High 29 in 89-79 Win
NSU Advances to Regional Semis Tomorrow at 4:00 pm

Grand Forks, N.D. – Northern State (25-6) knocked off Regis University (26-6) 89-79 in the first round of the NCAA North Central Regional at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center in Grand Forks, N.D. With the win the Wolves improve to 3-3 in NCAA Regionals and get their first win since 1998 when they upset North Dakota State, 76-73. Carolin Becker had the game of her life as she scored a career high 29 points as the Wolves improve to 2-0 all-time in the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.

Northern State shot a season high 58% (28-of-48) from the field. They also had season highs in free throws attempted (39) and free throws made (29) as they finished the game hitting 74% of their charity shots, including 15-of-18 in the second half.

Northern State will take #2 North Dakota tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 p.m. in Grand Forks, N.D.

Carolin Becker (Jr., F, Beulah, N.D.) has been dominate at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. The Wolves are 2-0 there after upsetting UND there last season 77-69 and Becker has been the reason. Becker, in two games at the Sioux Center, is 17-of-23 (74%) from the field and 18-of-24 (75%) from the free throw line as she averages 26 points and 28.5 minutes per game.

Northern State opened up the game taking an 18-7 lead before Regis answered with a 14-5 run to close the gap to two, 23-21 with eight minutes to go in the first half. The Wolves would extend their lead to four at the intermission, leading 40-36.

The Wolves lead despite ten first half turnovers and going 14-of-21 (67%) from the free throw line. Part of the Wolves first half success was their shooting, as they hit 59% (13-of-22) from the field. Also they held Regis’s first team all-region player Diana Lopez to zero points (0-of-5) in the first half.

Regis came out in the second half as showed how they had won 26 games on the season. The Rangers went on an 8-0 run to take their first lead of the game at 42-40 with 18:29 to go. They also put Northern State’s all-region center, Noelle Hall (So., C, Altura, Minn.) in foul trouble as she picked up her third personal only three seconds into the second half. Hall finished with 10 points and seven rebounds in only 19 minutes.

The Rangers extended their lead to six, 48-42, before a turning point in the game occurred. Sara Jensen (Sr., G, South Shore, S.D.) hit the Wolves first three pointer of the game to cut the lead to three. After a defensive stand, Ali Chmielewski (Sr., G, Foley, Minn.) hit another three to tie the game at 48. Chmielewski finished the game 6-of-7 from the field, 5-of-5 from the free throw line for 19 points and six assists. Jensen was only 1-of-5, but had seven points, six rebounds and five assists.

Prior to the game Northern State head coach Curt Fredrickson said that one of Northern’s strength was their two senior guards. He was right.

Although Regis went back up by five, you could feel the momentum swinging back to Northern State.

Down five with 12:23 left, Northern State went on a 14-4 run over the next four minutes to take the lead for good. The Wolves hit their free throws down the stretch to secure the win, even after losing Hall and Jensen, who fouled out. This marks the first time this season that either Hall or Jensen have fouled out in a game (Hall first time in career).

Another part of the turning point was at the 10:20 mark of the second half when Diana Lopez (22 ppg) was called for her fourth foul and went to the bench. Lopez, who was scoreless in the first half, scored eight points in the first nine minutes of the second half before hitting the pine. Lopez finished with 11 points on 5-of-14 shooting including 1-of-6 from three point range and 0-of-5 from the free throw line.

Regis struggled from the free throw line in the game as they were 14-of-26 (54%) in the game.

Northern State advances to the second round of the regionals from the first time since 1998 when they lost 81-78 in overtime to Nebraska-Kearney.

NSU Regional Release

Full NCAA Bracket (64 Teams)

Press Notes