SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – University of Sioux Falls outscored Wayne State 21-9 in the fourth quarter to come from behind for a 58-49 win in the semifinals of the Northern Sun Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament Monday afternoon at the Sanford Pentagon.
The Wildcats started slow in the contest, making just 1-of-7 from the field to start the game and trailed 7-2 early. Wayne State used a Kacie O’Connor 3-pointer to tie the score at 7-7 at the 4:55 mark and later took its first lead of the game at 12-11 on a Paige Ballinger three-point play with 2:13 to go in the quarter. Wayne State led 14-13 after one as Ballinger made 4-of-6 shots for nine first-quarter points while the rest of the team was 2-of-11 shooting in the quarter.
The second quarter saw both defenses continue to control play. The Wildcats used back-to-back baskets from senior forward Anna Martensen, with the second one turning into a three-point play as Wayne State took its biggest lead of the first half at 23-19 with 4:18 to go before halftime.
The Cougars battled back and tied the score at 23-23 with 2:24 to go in the second quarter, but Wayne State scored the last three points of the half, thanks to senior forward Katie Hoskins going 3-for-4 at the foul line, to give the Wildcats a 26-23 advantage at intermission.
The Wildcats built a pair of five-point leads in the third quarter at 31-26 and 33-28, but the Cougars scored seven straight points and took a 35-33 lead on a three-point play by Madi Robson with 3:26 left third quarter. Wayne State countered with a Ballinger layup, one free throw by Kacie O’Connor and Hoskins 3-pointer to regain the lead at 39-35 at the 1:09 mark before finishing the third quarter with a 40-37 lead.
The fourth quarter was dominated by the Cougars as USF made 7-of-13 shots from the field while Wayne State went cold, making just 4-of-16 as Sioux Falls put an end to Wayne State’s season.
The two teams traded baskets early in the fourth quarter, but the turning point came when Wayne State went scoreless for almost half of the fourth quarter, allowing the Cougars to take control of the game. Martensen made a layup at the 7:40 mark to even the score at 44-44, but the Cougars scored the next seven points and Wayne State never scored again until a Maggie Schulte jumper with 2:56 left that got the Wildcats within five at 51-46. That’s as close as Wayne State would get the rest of the way.
Ballinger led WSC in scoring with 20 points while Martensen ender her Wildcat career with a 15-point, eight-rebound effort.
Wayne State, 23-7, had three seniors on this year’s team – Martensen, Hoskins and Haley Moore.
