The Wayne State women came away with a hard-fought win over Bemidji State on Friday, while the men fell victim to a buzzer-beating 3-pointer in a tough loss to the Beavers.
In the women’s game, Wayne State never trailed, but had to work down to the final seconds to hang on for a 70-65 win over the Bemidji State women at Rice Auditorium.
Wayne State led 15-4 early in the game and were 6-of-7 from 3-point range in the opening period to take a 26-9 lead. That changed in the second period, though, as the Wildcats couldn’t keep the hot shooting going, allowing the Beavers to close within two, 35-33, at the half.
Bemidji State tied the game early in the third quarter, but Wayne State took the lead for good with a 12-2 run. Maggie Schulte hit a 3-pointer to keep the Wildcats in front by double digits, but Bemidji State closed to within seven at the end of the period and kept things interesting until the end.
Anna Martensen’s layup gave Wayne State a 63-53 lead with 3:47 to go, but the Beavers made one more run to close within three with :11 left before Katie Hoskins hit two free throws to put the game out of reach.
Paige Ballinger led the Wildcats with 20 points, Martensen added 14 and Schulte put in 10 for the Wildcats, who improved to 16-6 overall and 11-6 in NSIC play. Martensen led the team with eight rebounds and Ballinger had four assists and four blocks.
In men’s action, Wayne State’s hopes for a home win were dashed at the buzzer as Bemidji State’s Christian Pekarek hit a 3-pointer from the left wing as time expired to give the Beavers a 78-76 win, dropping the men to 7-6 overall and 5-12 in NSIC play.
Wayne State led for most of the game, playing well in the early going and building an 18-7 advantage. They had their biggest lead late in the first half at 29-16 after a Kendall Jacks 3-pointer and led by 10 with 3:23 to go before the Bevers closed to within four at the half, 37-33.
Wayne State led 52-45 with 12:30 to go before Bemidji State came back to tie the game with a 9-2 run to make it 54-54 with 9:32 left. Neither team led by more than four from that point on.
Wayne State led 74-71 before Bemidji State rallied to take a 75-74 lead with :10 left. Vance Janssen was fouled with 5.2 seconds left and hit two free throws to give Wayne State the 76-75 lead, but Bemidji State got the ball for one last shot and Pekarek hit a rainbow 25-footer from the left side to send the Wildcats to the hearbreaking defeat.
Jacks led the Wildcats with 19 points, Matt Thomas added 15 and Brian Goodwin and Austin Esters each had 14 points. Jacks and Jordan Cornelius each had five rebounds.
Wayne State is home Saturday to host Minnesota Crookston in a men’s/women’s doubleheader, beginning with the women’s game at 4 p.m.
