Wayne State 69 Upper Iowa 38

            Wayne State outscored Upper Iowa 22-3 in the second quarter as the Wildcats cruised to their ninth straight win in a 69-38 Northern Sun Conference women's basketball win Friday evening over the Peacocks at Dorman Gymnasium in Fayette, Iowa.  The Wildcats are now 23-6 overall and 17-4 in the NSIC while UIU is now 2-25 and 0-21 in league games.
            With the score tied at 5-5 just under four minutes into the contest, WSC scored the next nine points on a jumper and 3-pointer from Kacie O'Connor and baskets from Amanda Brainerd and Maggie Lowe for a 14-5 lead.  The host Peacocks were able to get within 15-9 at the end of the first quarter.
            The Wildcats scored the first 12 points of the second quarter to take control of the game with a 27-9 lead and outscored the Peacocks 22-3 in the second quarter for a 37-12 lead at intermission.
            WSC made 9 of 17 shots in the third quarter (52.9%) and held a 21-11 scoring advantage to finish the third quarter with a 58-23 lead.
            Reserves dominated play in the fourth quarter for the 'Cats as UIU produced 15 points to 11 for WSC as the Wildcats finished with a 69-38 win.
            Senior center Paige Ballinger led a balanced Wildcat attack with 11 points followed by senior guard Kacie O'Connor and junior reserve forward Andrea Larson with 10 apiece.
            Wayne State made 26 of 53 shots from the floor for 49 percent, including 4 of 11 behind the arc.  The 'Cats were 13 for 18 at the charity stripe in the win.
            Courtney Schnoor paced Upper Iowa in scoring with 10 points.  The Peacocks connected on 15 of 60 shots for 25 percent, going 2 for 16 from 3-point range and 6 for 9 at the free throw line.
            WSC won the rebounding battle over UIU 50-26 thanks to 10 rebounds from Ballinger, giving her a third double-double this season.  Maggie Schulte added six boards.
            The Wildcats were charged with 21 turnovers in the game to 14 on the Peacocks.
            Maggie Lowe had three of Wayne State's 11 assists and was credited with three of the team's seven steals.
            Ballinger was credited with seven blocked shots in the game, the third-most blocked shots in a single game by a Wildcat women's basketball player.
            Wayne State will finish the regular season at Winona State Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m.