Nov. 5, 1999

Northern State battled back and forth with last year's national runner-up and the team considered second-best in the nation (according to the USA Today/WBCA pre-season poll) before falling 73-66 in the first round of the Disney Tip-Off Classic in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

The Wolves had their chances in the waning minutes of the game, coming as close as three points with one minute, 45 seconds remaining, but couldn't make up the Golden Suns' second-half resurgence. The Wolves led 39-35 after the first half, but fell behind for good after a 9-2 run in the first two minutes of the second half by AT. The Wolves stopped the Golden Suns' run at a margin of 10 points and played the rest of the second half right with the national power, facing four-to-eight point deficits the rest of the way.

Senior Jammie Coyle (Belle Fourche) started the season on the right foot, shooting a sizzling 11-of-20 from the field and 5-of-9 from downtown for 29 points. Junior Jennifer Murphy (Aberdeen) was NSU's other double-digit performer with 10 points. Junior forward Natalie Braun (Warner) led the boards crew with five, while senior point guard Amanda Mikuska (Platte) had a team-high five assists.