By: Courtesy Mike Grosz WSC Sports Info

Box Score
Tournament Website

Sioux Falls, S..D. - #18 Wayne State College used five players in double figures as the Wildcats rolled to an 81-59 win over MSU Moorhead in the semifinals of the NSIC Sanford Health Women's Basketball Tournament at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  It also marked the 350th career win for Wildcat head coach Chris Kielsmeier.

The Wildcats improve to 27-4 with the win and will now face Northern State (25-6) in the NSIC Tournament Finals Tuesday at 5 p.m. at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls.  MSU Moorhead ends the season with a 17-13 record.

The Wildcats got off to a great start on both ends of the floor.  Offensively, WSC scored the first 10 points of the game thanks to 4 of 5 shooting by senior forward Jordan Spencer to give the 'Cats a 10-0 lead 3:36 into the contest.  Defensively, WSC held MSU Moorhead to just 1 of 6 shooting while forcing six Dragon turnovers to take a 12-4 lead at the first media timeout.

WSC increased the advantage with continued strong shooting and defense.  Senior Millie Niggeling drained a 3-pointer and lay-in followed by a Katie Hoskins basket to give the Wildcats a 24-9 lead with 9:39 to go in the half.

The lead continued to grow thanks to another Niggeling trey and basket coupled with a Haley Moore 3-pointer that gave WSC a 34-13 lead as the Wildcats at this point were 14 of 21 shooting from the field for 66.7 percent.

MSU Moorhead cut into the lead momentarily, sinking a trio of 3-pointers to get within 14 at 38-24 with 2:54 to go in the half.  But the Wildcats closed the half with a bang as Hoskins converted a layup followed by a Sadie Murren layup and 3-pointer with just one second left before halftime giving the Wildcats a 45-24 lead at intermission.

WSC finished the first half shooting 59.4 percent making 19 of 32 while holding the Dragons to just 9 of 29 shooting for 31 percent.  The Wildcats had just two turnovers and 12 assists in the half while forcing MSU Moorhead into 12 turnovers.

The Wildcats extended the lead to 29 points to open the second half thanks to a 12-2 run. Senior guard Ashton Yossi scored six points to highlight the run.

WSC then went cold from the field, making just two baskets in a 10-minute span (17:34-7:33), that allowed MSU Moorhead to get within 17 several times before the final media timeout.  Wildcat reserves then closed out the contest as WSC finished with the 81-59 win.

Senior forward Jordan Spencer paced five Wildcat players in double figures with a game-high 22 points.  It was her ninth game of 20 or more points this season.  Others in double figures included Ashton Yossi with 14, Millie Niggeling 13, Paige Ballinger 10 and junior guard Sadie Murren with 10 points and a career-high 10 assists.

Wayne State finished the game making 29 of 57 shots for 50.9 percent.  The 'Cats were 8 for 18 behind the arc and 15 for 19 at the charity stripe.

Meghan Roehrich led MSU Moorhead in scoring with 14 points followed by Heather Strese with 12.  The Dragons shot 40 percent from the field on 22 of 55, going 5 of 15 from the 3-point line and 10 for 15 at the charity stripe.

MSU Moorhead out-rebounded Wayne State 38-29.  Maggie Schulte led WSC on the glass with five rebounds.  WSC held a 34-26 advantage on points in the paint and 31-14 edge in points off turnovers over MSU Moorhead.

The Wildcats had 10 turnovers and 20 assists in the game while forcing MSU Moorhead into 19 turnovers.  Murren was credited with a career-high 10 assists in the win while Yossi handed out five.  Jordan Spencer had three of Wayne State's seven steals in the game.