Wayne State built a 20-point halftime lead, then held off a second-half comeback by Emporia State for a 73-61 non-conference win Saturday evening at Rice Auditorium Saturday evening.
It was all Wildcats in the first half. After a pair of lead changes earlya, the Wildcats scored the final seven points of the first quarter to take a 15-7 lead, then used a 13-0 run in the second period to take a 37-17 lead into the locker room.
Emporia State came out in the third quarter with a full-court press that gave the Wildcats problems, allowing the Hornets to make a comeback. Wayne State’s lead of 39-17 early in the third quarter was reduced to 47-41 by the end of the third quarter as Wayne State was held to just 4-of-17 shooting in the quarter.
The Hornets got within four twice in the fourth quarter, but Wayne State’s stellar free throw shooting helped fend back Emporia State to hang on for the win, hitting 25-of-26 from the charity stripe overall, including 17-of-18 in the final period.
Maya Fitzpatrick led four Wildcats in double figures with 16 points, making 10 of 10 free throws. Britney Ho and Jordon Heckert each scored 14 with Meg Rietz adding a career-best 11.
ESU held a 39-35 edge in rebounding over the Wildcats despite eight boards from Kylah vanDonkersgoed. Fitzpatrick had team-highs of four assists and four steals with Abby Kopecky recording four steals and three assists.
The Wildcats (3-1, 0-1 NSIC) return to Northern Sun Conference play this weekend, visiting 25th-ranked Minnesota Duluth Saturday at 2 p.m. and Concordia-St. Paul Sunday for a 4 p.m. contest.
