DAHL'S DOUBLE-DOUBLE LEADS WOLVES TO VICTORY AT WAYNE STATE

Dec. 29, 2001

Showing the full effects of rust from a 10-day holiday hiatus, Northern still managed a 54-46 win at Wayne State (Neb.) Saturday night to improve to 3-0 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and 8-3 overall.

The only player to excel on both ends of the court for NSU was senior forward Shanna Dahl (St. Cloud, Minn.), who put up her second double-double performance of the season by scoring 12 points and ripping down 13 rebounds. Dahl was 3-of-3 from the field, 6-of-7 from the line, grabbed four offensive caroms and registered two blocks. Karen Hochstein led Wayne (4-7, 1-2 NSIC) with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

NSU sophomore shooting guard Carin Rambow (Litchfield, Minn.) had an off night from the floor (0-for-9), but made up for it by tying for a career-high nine rebounds.

After trailing in the opening minutes, the Wolves took control of the game and led by as many as 21 in the second half before Wayne made its final surge. The Wildcats were able to cut the lead to five with 22 seconds remaining, but it was too little, too late. Rambow's only points came in the closing seconds from the free-throw line to ice the game.

Wayne's offense went through severe scoring droughts throughout the game and ended up shooting just 24 percent from the field. It was the fifth time in NSU's 11 games this season the Wolves' defense has held opponents to below 30 percent from the field. Predictably, the Wolves have won all five such games.

Northern will battle Southwest State Sunday for conference supremacy. The Wolves and Mustangs are tied atop the NSIC with 3-0 league records and 8-3 overall marks. Tip-off in hostile Marshall, Minn., is set for 5:30 p.m.