December 31, 2003

WOLVES CLOSE 2003 WITH OVERTIME LOSS TO DAKOTA WESLEYAN

Mitchell, S.D. - The Northern State women gave the best team in NAIA all it could handle on its home floor on Wednesday afternoon as Dakota Wesleyan survived a 74-65 overtime affair in the Corn Palace.

The Wolves sprinted to a 9-2 lead hitting three of their first four three-pointers but the Wolves' lead would quickly be evaporated as DWU followed with a 6-0 run reducing the lead to one.

Northern would not relenquish the lead until the 7:58 mark in the first half when DWU's Jenny Bridge hit a three-pointer to give the Tigers their first lead of the game at 19-18. The game stayed close for the rest of the first and Wesleyan entered the break up 33-31.

The game was toe-to-toe for the entire second period with no team leading by more than five at any time.

Following two made free throws by DWU's Tacey Faulhaber, the Tigers went up 61-58 with just 41 ticks of the clock left in regulation. Just 16 seconds later NSU junior Michelle Hanson would step up for the Wolves knocking down a crucial three-pointer that would send the game to the extra frame.

DWU dominated overtime from the start going up by six right out of the blocks before Hanson hit two free throws to bring the game within four. The Tigers would go on to hold the Wolves without a field goal for the entire five minutes and hold on for a 74-65 victory.

NSU was led by Hanson's 22 points while Carin Rambow chipped in 13 going 3-for-6 from behind the three-point arch.

Amanda Mollman controlled the boards in the game coming up with a phenomenal 15 boards in 31 minutes of play.

NSU hit 24-of-69 from the floor for 34.8 percent while the Tigers were 27-of-68 for 39.7 percent on the afternoon.

The Wolves were uncharacteristically out rebounded by DWU 52-38 but committed just 14 turnovers while forcing 20 in the game.

Northern State will try to snap its five-game losing streak when they enter NSIC competition on Saturday at Minnesota State Moorhead.

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