Wayne State 71 Colorado Christian 46
Clare Duwelius sank five three pointers and scored a game-high 17 points while Mara Hjelle added 16 points and six rebounds to lead Wayne State in a convincing 71-46 win over Colorado Christian Monday afternoon at the Super 8 Women’s Basketball Tip Off Classic in Aberdeen, South Dakota. It was the second straight rout for the Wildcats over a RMAC school after WSC blasted Colorado Mines 72-48 Sunday evening.
The Wildcats used a pair of scoring runs in the first half to take control of the game for the second straight night. With Colorado Christian leading 4-3 early in the game, WSC went on a 15-0 run over the next 7:28 to take an 18-4 lead. WSC then closed the first half on a 12-0 run over the final 5:43 to grab a commanding 38-15 lead entering halftime. The ‘Cats scored the first four points of the second half and held CCU without a point for another 3:01 of the second half, resulting in a scoring drought of 8:44 for the Cougars as Wayne State never looked back in cruising to the 71-46 win.
“I knew this kind of performance was in these kids,” remarked WSC head coach Chris Kielsmeier on his post-game radio show. “We’re doing things the way I want it done and it’s fun to watch. It was a great performance by our kids and I’m very proud of them. These are two big regional wins against two of the top teams in the Rocky Mountain Conference.”
Duwelius, a 5-10 sophomore forward from Des Moines Dowling Catholic HS drilled 5 of 6 shots from the three point line and finished with a game-high 17 points to pace a balanced scoring attack for the Wildcats. Hjelle, a 6-2 junior center from White Bear Lake, Minnesota, chipped in with 16 points and six rebounds. Ashley Arlen and Alyssa Fischbach also reached double digits with 12 and 10 points respectively.
WSC shot 47.3 percent from the field, making 26 of 55 shots overall and 6 of 16 from the three point line. The Wildcats were 13 of 17 at the free throw stripe. Wayne State had 18 assists in the game with just 13 turnovers, but was outrebounded by Colorado Christian 36-31 despite six caroms each from Hjelle and Julie Ann Wagner.
For Colorado Christian, Abby Rosenthal poured in 12 points followed by Kelsie Hart with 10. The Cougars shot 21 of 59 from the field for 35.6 percent and was just 3 of 21 from the three point line and 1 of 1 at the free throw stripe. CCU had 22 turnovers in the game.
Wayne State will be in action again on Monday, November 23rd when the Wildcats visit Dakota State for a 5:30 p.m. non conference contest.