Saturday, November 29, 2008
MSU Moorhead 66 Wayne State 63
MSU Moorhead used a late rally to edge Wayne State College 66-63 Saturday evening in non-conference women's college basketball played at the NSIC Holiday Hoopsfest in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Dragons move to 5-0 on the young season with the win while Wayne State falls to 2-3. MSU Moorhead rallied from an eight-point deficit (49-41) with 14:15 to play and held the lead for just the final 32 seconds of the game, but sank key free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
Neither team held more than a five point lead in the first half as MSU Moorhead jumped out to a 19-14 lead nine minutes into the game. But a 14-4 run by Wayne State gave the Wildcats a 28-23 lead with 5:10 to go in the first half following a jumper by Laquisha Cook. WSC ended the first half with a 36-35 lead and held the lead the entire second half until the final minute of the game.
The Wildcats took their biggest lead of the game at eight points, 49-41, following a steal and layup by Cook with 14:15 left in the game. However, MSU Moorhead slowly chipped away at the lead and tied the score for the first time in the second half at 58-58 with 6:32 to play on a Chris Falzon three pointer. WSC held a 63-60 lead with 2:33 remaining following a jumper by freshman guard Alisha Brown, but that would be the last points for the Wildcats.
MSU Moorhead took their first lead in the second half at 64-63 with 32 seconds to play after two free throws by Alison Nash-Gerlach. Then, Dragons guard Katie Walden stole the ball from Brown and was fouled and canned two free throws with 10 seconds to play to give MSUM a 66-63 lead. WSC had a chance to send the game into overtime, but a jumper by Kati Jo Christensen was blocked at the end of the game as the Dragons held on for the 66-63 win.
Sophomore center Mara Hjelle had 13 points to lead three double figure scorers for the Wildcats. Laquisha Cook added 11 points followed by Jodie Boss with 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds. WSC shot 36.6 percent from the field, making 26 of 71 shots. The 'Cats were 4 of 13 from the three point line and 7 of 11 at the charity stripe.
Junior forward Alison Nash-Gerlach paced MSU Moorhead with a game-high 17 points followed by Angie Jetvig with 16 points and Chris Falzon 10. The Dragons shot 42.4 percent from the field, making 25 of 59 shots. MSUM was 5 of 14 from the three point line and 11 of 13 at the free throw line.
MSUM outrebounded Wayne State 45-37 as Boss grabbed seven rebounds to lead WSC while Meghan Rettke grabbed a game-high 11 caroms for the Dragons. Wayne State had a season-low 10 turnovers while forcing MSUM into 19 mistakes.
Wayne State will play Minnesota Duluth Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. to close out play at the NSIC Holiday Hoopsfest in Sioux Falls at the Elmen Center.