WOLVES CONTROL WINONA STATE 79-61

Dec. 8, 2001

PURE WRATH -- Senior Jodi Purath takes it to the hole before kicking it out for an assist against Winona State. Purath ended with a career-high nine assists Saturday night.

A foul on Northern State followed by a technical foul on its bench sent Winona State to the line for four free points and a 26-21 lead with seven minutes remaining in the first half. From there, the game belonged to NSU.

Northern responded with a 17-0 run and never looked back, posting a 79-61 win Saturday night in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference game at NSU's Wachs Arena.

The Wolves (6-2, 2-0 NSIC) took a six-point lead at 40-34 lead into halftime and steadily built it to as many as 24 points in the second half. By the end, the game became an opportunity for underclassmen to get playing time, as 17 Wolves players entered the game and 13 cracked the scoring column.

NSU was led by redshirt freshman post Natalie Hopkins (St. Louis Park, Minn.), who scored a game-high 13 points to go with six rebounds. Freshman Andrea Ronderos (Washburn, N.D.) chipped in 11 to go with five assists, while senior point guard Holly Schaunaman (Leola) put up 10 points an 5-of-6 shooting to round out NSU's double-digit scorers. Senior forward Jodi Purath (Red Lake Falls, Minn.) didn't score but almost came up with an odd double-double, recording nine assists and eight rebounds to go with four steals on the night. WSU (5-3, 1-1 NSIC) was led by Jenny Johnson's 11 points.

NSU held Winona State to just 29 percent shooting for the game and out-rebounded the Warriors 55-42.