Nov. 28, 2000

Northern State fans braving Tuesday's blizzard were rewarded with a 78-73 Wolves win over Minnesota State-Mankato and an introduction to what could be a stellar career for NSU true freshman guard Carin Rambow.

The Litchfield, Minn., native stole the spotlight down the stretch to help stave off a MSU-M comeback. Rambow scored nine of NSU's last 11 points in the last three minutes of the game to give the Wolves their second straight win of the season and improve the team's overall record to 2-4. MSU-Mankato dropped to 1-3 on the year.

The Mavericks hung around the whole game, and made their biggest charge late in the game with an 8-2 run capped by a 3-pointer that tied the score at 67-67 with 3 minutes, 13 seconds remaining. But Rambow ended that threat by answering with a 3-pointer of her own. The unphased underclassmen would later insert the proverbial dagger in the final minute, coming up with a steal and stepping up to the free-throw line with icewater in her veins to nail six straight free-throws and put the game out of reach. Rambow finished with 12 points.

But Rambow's heroics down the stretch wouldn't have meant anything without the always solid play of NSU seniors Memory Johannsen (Tolstoy) and Natalie Braun (Warner). The forward duo led NSU in scoring with 13 points apiece. Johannsen also ripped down nine rebounds and recorded six assists. Braun pulled in six boards. Despite playing in foul trouble, senior center Jennifer Murphy (Aberdeen) also came up big, scoring 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Junior point guard Holly Schaunaman (Leola) rounded out NSU's double-digit scorers with 11 points to go with six assists. MSU-M was led by Kim Curtis' 19 points.

NSU led for virtually the entire game, threatening to blow the game open in the first half with a 31-19 lead. But Mankato ended the half with an 8-0 run to keep the game exciting for the 375 hard-core basketball fans who trudged into the Barnett Center amidst blankets of snow.