The Wildcat women’s basketball team snagged a win against Minnesota Duluth with a score of 76-70 on Saturday in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate game. Thus far in the season, the ’Cats have an 18-6 regular season record and 12-4 in the NSIC South record. With the latest loss, Minnesota Duluth has a 11-8 regular season record with an 8-7 record in league games.

The Wildcats ended the first quarter with the lead at 24-15. The accuracy of made shots on both teams was 50 percent, but the ’Cats managed to shoot 10 out of 10 free throws, helping make their lead for the first quarter.

In the second quarter, both teams had trouble landing shots. The Wildcats shot 3 out of 9 while UMD shot 5 of 17. With two free throws from Paige Ballinger, the ’Cats were in the lead. UMD tried to close in the score gap with three free throws from Allison Olley, ending the half 35-27.

The third quarter led to both teams scoring 19 points. Maggie Schulte threw points on the scoreboard with a three pointer, making the score 51-39. UMD responded back with seven points to bring the third quarter to an end score of 54-46.

The pressure closed in on the ’Cats in the fourth quarter when UMD added seven points on the board, making it 56-53. WSC got on the ball and put seven more points on the board, giving them a 10 point lead with help from Erin Norling shooting a three pointer early on in the quarter.

Schulte threw in two free throws later in the quarter, putting the scoreboard at 69-58. There were point exchanges between WSC and UMD during the final minutes of the game, coming as close as five points within each other, but the Wildcats came out victorious with free throws near the end of the clock with a final score of 76-70.

Ballinger had the most points in the game with 20 points, also scoring 14 out of 15 points in free throws. Ballinger had nine rebounds as well. Schulte and Norling, both contributed 14 points.

The ’Cats made half of all of their shots, 21 of 42 landing in the hoop. They also were 4 for 12 for three point shots and made 30 out of 34 free throws.

Minnesota Duluth’s Emma Boehm and Sarah Grow both scored 14 points, with Katie Stark scoring 13.

UMD scored 27 out of 62 shots, landing 5 of 16 three pointers and 11 of 17 free throws.

The Wildcats had three more turnovers in the game than the Bulldogs with 21 turnovers.

Four of the 13 assists for WSC were made by Ballinger along with two blocks, and Schulte led with five steals.

The women’s basketball team will be playing again this weekend at Bemidji State on Friday at 6 p.m., then playing Minnesota Crookston on Saturday at 4 p.m.

On a special note, Paige Ballinger also named Northern Sun Conference South Divisions Women’s Basketball Player of the Week. Hailing from Pender, Ballinger has a 58 percent field goal shot and a 90 percent free throw line shot. She also averages 19.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

The men’s basketball team also went toe-to-toe with Minnesota Duluth. The game was heated as it went into overtime, with the 88-86 win going to WSC Saturday night in Northern Sun Conference play at home. The men’s record is 12-12 with 7-9 in league play. Consequently, UMD fell to 9-12 in the regular season while being 5-10 in conference.

The Bulldogs held the scoreboard at half-time with a 45-39 lead. WSC and UMD had made the same amount of shots throughout the bout, both hitting 33 out of 57 shots.

The Wildcats answered back in the second half, bringing the game back around with a score of 56-49 early with help from Jordan Cornelius.

With 7:51 left in the game, UMD fought hard to gain a 65-64 lead with a three-pointer from Trevon Entwisle.

Cornelius brought it back to later on in the game with a three-pointer, giving the ’Cats a lead of 76-70 with less than two minutes in the game.

UMD flew back into the game with two three-pointers with six seconds left on the clock, sending the game into overtime.

The trade of points in overtime led to neither team allowing more than a three point lead on each other.

With 28 seconds left on the clock, and Cornelius gave the Wildcats a 87- 84 lead. The Bulldog’s Brandon Myer brought score with 14 seconds left in the game, putting the score to 87-86.

Kendall Jacks was fouled by the Bulldogs, hitting 1 of 2 free throws putting the score at 88-86.

Before UMD could try to put any points on the board, the buzzer rang and the Wildcats won the game.

Junior guard Vance Janssen put in 22 points on 9 of 15 shooting to lead scoring for the Wildcats. Jacks had 21 points, Cornelius followed with 16 points, and Trevin Joseph with 12 points.

The ’Cats made 8 of 16 three point shots and 14 of 17 free throws. Brandon Myer of UMD led with 20 points, Sean Burns with 18 points, Logan Rohrscheib with 17 points, and Entwisle with 14 points.

UMD more three-pointers shooting 13 out of 20, and went 7 of 11 free throws being made.

UMD made more rebounds than WSC with 29 rebounds over 22. Burns led with eight rebounds, and Cornelius made nine rebound for the ’Cats.

WSC had 21 turnovers leading to 26 points for UMD. Janssen gave the ’Cats with five assists and four steals. Brian Goodwin had four assists and three steals for the Bulldogs.

This weekend, the men’s basketball team will be visiting Bemidji State on Friday at 8 p.m., and then facing against Minnesota Crookston on Saturday at 6 p.m.