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Sioux Falls, S.D. - Senior forward Jordan Spencer scored 18 of her game-high 23 points in the second half to power #18 Wayne State College to a 76-63 victory over St. Cloud State in the quarterfinals of the 2015 NSIC/Sanford Health Women's Basketball Tournament Saturday evening at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  The Wildcats improve to 26-4 on the season while ending the St. Cloud State season at 16-12.

The first part of the game was highlighted by scoring runs from both teams.  After Jordan Spencer opened with a jumper on the first WSC possession, St. Cloud State scored the next seven points for a 7-2 Husky advantage.

Wayne State then went on a 14-0 run over the next 4:04 to take a 16-7 lead at the 13:50 mark.  The Huskies got as close as four at 18-14, but reeled off seven straight points and took their first double digit lead of the game at 25-14 on a Millie Niggeling 3-pointer with 10:45 remaining in the half.

The Wildcats still held an 11-point lead at 29-18 following a Katie Hoskins fast break layup with 8:16 to go in the half.  But WSC made just two baskets over the next eight minutes, allowing St. Cloud State to pull within three at 35-32 with 1:31 in the half.

Wildcat junior guard Sadie Murren gave WSC a spark just before halftime as she stole a St. Cloud State pass just past mid-court in the final seconds and banked in a 3-pointer as the horn sounded to give Wayne State a 38-32 halftime lead.

Wayne State opened the second half strong, using an 11-2 scoring spurt to take a 49-34 lead forcing a St. Cloud State timeout.  Spencer scored back to back baskets to start the run, Niggeling then canned a 3-pointer followed by a jumper in the paint with a Spencer fast break layup capping the quick start to the second half.

The Wildcats maintained a double digit lead on the Huskies until seven minute mark when SCSU scored nine straight points in a span of 1:15 to cut the WSC advantage to 60-53 with 6:25 to play.

St. Cloud State crept within six at 64-58 following a basket by Karissa LeCaptain.  Spencer then scored the next six points for the Wildcats on a pair of baskets and two free throws to put the Wildcats back up 10 at 68-58 with 1:40 to play. 

Murren sank six free throws with Niggeling add two more in the final 1:08 to help Wayne State seal the 76-63 win over the Huskies.

Spencer led Wayne State in scoring with her 23 points, going 9 of 15 from the field and 5 of 7 at the charity stripe.  Ashton Yossi, Millie Niggeling and Sadie Murren each chipped in 12 points.

Wayne State shot 23 of 56 from the field for 41.1 percent, but was just 3 for 16 behind the arc.  The Wildcats were 27 of 34 (79.4%) at the charity stripe.

Chelsea Nooker led St. Cloud State in scoring with 16 points followed by Lexy Petermann with 13 and Betsy MacDonald 12. 

The Huskies shot 34.3 percent from the field, making 23 of 67 shots.  SCSU was 4 of 15 from the 3-point line and 13 for 18 at the foul stripe.

Wayne State held a slim 43-42 edge in rebounding over the Huskies.  Freshman Maggie Schulte hauled in 10 boards to lead the Wildcats followed by Niggeling with nine and Spencer eight.  Chelsea Nooker and Karissa LeCaptain paced the Huskies on the boards with eight apiece.

The Wildcats held a 36-22 advantage on points in the paint and 20-9 in points off turnovers.  Both teams had 15 turnovers in the contest.

Murren tied a career-high with seven assists for the Wildcats while Yossi was credited with a team-high four steals.

Wayne State now advances to the semi-finals of the NSIC Sanford Health Women's Basketball Tournament on Monday evening at 5:30 p.m. against either Winona State or MSU Moorhead.