NSIC competition moved to the second half of the league schedule for the Wayne State College women’s and men’s basketball teams.
From Rice Auditorium, WSC welcomed Minot State University on Friday.
The Wayne State College men never trailed en route to a 78-69 victory while the Wildcat women took the lead in the third quarter and never looked back during a 63-45 win against the visiting Beavers.
In the men’s game, Wayne State College built a lead of at-most 17 points with 2:19 left in the first half as WSC finished with a 48-35 advantage. The lead fell to two points (61-59 with 11:34 remaining in the game) as Minot State University used a 34-30 second half advantage. Final favored Wayne State College winning 78-69 picking up their third straight victory improving to 11-7 (5-7 NSIC) as #14 Minot State University dropped their third straight falling to 17-3 (8-3 NSIC).
Wayne State College was led in scoring by a season-high from junior transfer Kai Smith (11-15 FG/3-4 3PT) with 25 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals; sophomore JJ Ferrin (6-11 FG/3-6 3PT/2-2 FT) added 17 points, five rebounds and three assists as freshman Matt Noll (5-7 FG/1-1 3PT/3-5 FT) followed with 14 points, four rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block.
Other scoring came from fifth-year senior Jay Saunders (six rebounds/seven assists/one steal/one block) with seven points; fifth-year seniors Cody McCullough (four rebounds/two steals/one block) and Sean Stokes (two rebounds/one assist/three steals) both tallied six points as senior Ryan Blum (two rebounds/one steal) scored three points.
The Wildcats shot 28-58 (48.3%) from the field, 10-23 (43.5%) from behind the arc and 12-15 (80%) at the foul line.
Minot State leaders were Caleb Van De Griend with 19 points and 16 rebounds; Jaxon Gunville scored 19 points on five made three’s as Ayouba Berthe tallied 13 points.
The Beavers finished 25-51 (49%) from the floor, 9-23 (39.1%) behind the three point line and 10-13 (76.9%) from the charity stripe.
Minot State outrebounded Wayne State College, 31 to 29 including six – seven on the offensive glass which led to four second chance points compared to six second chance points for WSC. Wayne State College scored 24 points off of 15 Minot State turnovers while the Beavers scored eight points off of seven Wildcat turnovers.
Minot State won the battle in the paint (32-20) as WSC won the fast break scoring (16-3) and bench scoring (28-2).
During the women’s outing, Minot State held the early advantage following a 15-12 first quarter and 11-6 second to go up 26-18. WSC then used a 19-point swing thanks to a 28-9 third quarter to go up by 11 points and then pull away with a 17-10 fourth. Final favored Wayne State College winning 63-45 to improve to 9-7 (6-6 NSIC) as the Beavers dropped their fourth straight falling to 4-14 (3-8 NSIC). WSC didn’t lead until 4:34 left in the third quarter (31-30) and then took the lead for good at 34-32 with 3:57 left in the third before never giving up the lead (one tie).
Wayne State College was led in scoring by senior Tate Norblade (5-8 FG/2-2 3PT/2-2 FT) with 14 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals; junior Kylah VanDonkersgoed (5-13 FG/0-2 3PT/2-2 FT) followed with 12 points, eight rebounds and one assist as senior Delaney Clark (3-8 FG/3-7 3PT/2-2 FT) added 11 points, six rebounds and one assist.
Other scoring came from senior Maya Fitzpatrick (four rebounds/four assists/two steals) with seven points; senior Abby Kopecky (five rebounds) tallied six points; sophomore Brooklyn Kruse (one rebound) tacked on five points; three-point scoring came from junior Meg Rietz (one rebound/one steal) and freshman Addy Johnson (two rebounds/one steal) as senior Carsyn Boswell (four rebounds/two assists) finished with two points.
The Wildcats shot 21-53 (39.6%) from the field, 7-21 (33.3%) from behind the arc and 14-16 (87.5%) at the foul line. WSC was 0-11 in the first half from three and then made five of their seven second half three-pointers in the third quarter.
Minot State leaders were Maya Aguilar with 13 points; Emma Mogen followed with 11 points and nine rebounds as Jessica Mogen added 10 points.
The Beavers finished 16-53 (30.2%) from the floor, 4-25 (16%) behind the three point line and 9-17 (52.9%) from the charity stripe.
WSC outrebounded Minot State, 41 to 32 as both teams had five offensive rebounds which led to five second chance points compared to four second chance points for the visiting Beavers. Wayne State College scored nine points off of 11 Minot State turnovers while the Beavers scored five points off of 13 Wildcat turnovers.
Both teams scored 24 points in the paint as Minot State won fast break scoring (5-4) as WSC won bench scoring (25-4).
The Wayne State College men’s and women’s basketball teams will be off until Friday and Saturday, Jan. 24 – 25 visiting Minnesota Crookston and MSU Moorhead.
