Lady Wildcats sweep MIAA in opening Tourney

Richard Rhoden

Jordan Spencer takes a contested drive to the bucket in last Friday’s 78-50 victory over the University of Nebraska-Kearney.

Andrew Eaton, Staff Writer
November 19, 2014

The 12th-ranked Wayne State women’s basketball team posted a dominating victory on the opening night of the NSIC/MIAA Crossover this past weekend, and survived a scare the following evening at Rice Auditorium.

On Friday night, the Wildcats used a smothering defense and superb perimeter shooting to beat the University of Nebraska-Kearney 78-50.

WSC opened the game on a 10-2 run despite being beat on the offensive boards early.

Turnovers doomed UNK from the start, but the Lopers managed to cut the lead to three in part of its dominance on the boards. From that point, the Wildcats closed the first half on a 19-6 run.

The second half was the same story as the first. WSC remained on all cylinders with their perimeter game as they opened the half on an 11-3 run that pushed the score to 48-27.

WSC finished the game shooting 47 percent from the field, 38 percent from three-point range and 76 percent from the free-throw line.

Ashton Yossi led the Wildcats with 15 points. Sadie Murren chipped in with 13, Jordan Spencer had 12 and Katie Hoskins added 11 points and 6 rebounds.

In WSC’s Saturday afternoon game against StaterNorthwest Missouri State, a poor start by the Wildcats gave the opposing Bearcats a chance to upset the home team. When the score was tied at 13, WSC went on a 15-2 run to close the half leading by 8.

NMSU came out of halftime on an 11-3 run.

It was a one point game at 49-48 when a clutch three-pointer from senior Millie Niggeling and free-throws iced the game down the stretch for the Wildcats. They closed the game out with a 56-48 victory.

NMSU stayed in the game, out-rebounding WSC 42-29. The Wildcats struggled shooting the ball, 38 percent from the field, 44 percent from behind the arc and 81 percent from the free-throw line.

Yossi topped the Wildcats with 20 points, followed by Murren and Spencer with 11 apiece.

Northern State beat both UNK and Southwest Missouri State, 61-45 and 73-49.

The Lady Wildcats, now 2-0 on the young season, play two more games at home, Wednesday vs. York College and Friday vs. Chadron State before starting conference play Monday at Augustana.