Both Wayne State basketball teams came up on the short end of closely-contested Northern Sun Conference matchups Friday at Nemzek Fieldhouse in Moorhead, Minn.
MSU Moorhead’s Megan Hintz recorded a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds to pace the NSIC-leading Dragons past Wayne State 71-57.
The first half featured a trio of scoring runs with MSU Moorhead using the final run to take control of the game.
Wayne State opened with a 7-2 lead 1:46 into the contest. The host Dragons went on an 11-0 run to take a 13-7 lead at the 5:58 mark of the first quarter.
The Wildcats (11-6, 6-5 NSIC) closed the quarter with an 11-2 run and took an 18-15 lead on a Brittany Bongartz 3-pointer to end the quarter, but Moorhead opened the second quarter with six straight points to regain the lead at 21-18.
Wayne State came back and tied the score at 26-26 on an Erin Norling three-point play with 5:14 to play in the half, but the Dragons closed the half scoring 10 of the next 12 points for a 36-28 lead at intermission.
Moorhead put the game out of reach early in the third quarter, taking a 50-34 lead. The Wildcats got as close as nine at the end of the third quarter at 52-43, but Moorhead used a 15-2 run to open the fourth quarter for a commanding 67-45 lead on their way to the 14-point win.
Norling was the lone Wildcat in double figures with 20 points, her second 20-point scoring game of the season. Andrea Larson added nine points with Bongartz finishing with eight.
The Dragons held a 44-37 edge in rebounding over Wayne State. Bongartz grabbed nine boards for WSC with Kylie Hammer adding six. Hammer had four assists while Amelia Ivester had two blocked shots.
In the men’s matchup, MSU Moorhead rallied in the second half to defeat Wayne State 80-76.
The first half featured six ties and six lead changes in a close battle. The host Dragons held a six point lead at 25-19 with 7:12 to play in the half, but Wayne State charged back and tied the score at 29-29 on a Vance Janssen trey with 4:49 to play in the half and finished with a 38-33 lead at intermission on another Janssen 3-pointer with :10 left.
The Wildcats (13-4, 8-3 NSIC) continued their strong play early in the second half, building an 11-point advantage at 44-33 following a Trevin Joseph layup with 17:53 remaining.
MSU Moorhead came roaring back and forged a 51-51 tie with 12:49 remaining. Wayne State pushed the lead back to five, but the Dragons responded with a 10-1 run to erase the deficit and turn it into a 63-59 lead.
Wayne State’s last lead of the contest came at 66-65 on a Trevin Joseph layup at the 6:29 mark. Senior guard Vance Janssen hit a jumper with 1:16 to play, giving him 16 points for the game while becoming the 34th player in school history to record 1,000 points at Wayne State.
The Wildcats got within two at 76-74 on a layup from Joseph with :18 remaining, but MSU Moorhead made two free throws to seal the win.
Kendall Jacks had 17 points for the Wildcats while Vance Janssen and Nick Ferrarini each accounted for 16. Joseph also hit double figures with 13.
Wayne State held a 36-31 advantage in rebounding with Jordan Janssen grabbing 10 boards. Jordan Janssen had three assists and two blocks.
Wayne State will be in action again Saturday, visiting Northern State. The women’s game tips off at 4 p.m., with the men to follow at 6 p.m.
