The Wayne State women picked up their 20th win of the season while the men came up short in action at home Friday against Upper Iowa.
The Wildcat women got a career-high 23 points from Anna Martensen to post a 91-51 win over the Peacocks, improving to 20-6 overall and 15-6 in the NSIC.
The game was close early, but the Wildcats caught fire in the second half, outscoring Upper Iowa 55-22 to turn a close game into a rout.
Upper Iowa used a 9-0 run to take a 25-21 lead in the second quarter, but Wayne State righted things and used a 13-4 run at the end of the first half to take a 36-29 lead. They continued that momentum in the third with a 15-2 run and never looked back on the easy win.
Martensen scored 21 of her 23 points in the second half to lead four Wildcats in double figures. Kacie O’Connor added 12 points and Paige Ballinger and Evelyn Knox each had 10 points.
Maggie Schulte led in rebounds with six and Taylor Reiner added five. Haley Moore had four assists and Martensen had four steals.
In the men’s game, visiting Upper Iowa held on down the stretch to post a 67-65 win over Wayne State, dropping the Wildcats to 9-18 overall and 7-14 in NSIC action.
Wayne State got out to an early lead before the Peacocks used a 15-6 run to take an 18-13 lead midway through the first half.
Wayne State got within one before Upper Iowa used an 11-0 run to take a 30-18 lead with 4:27 to go in the half. Wayne State was able to cut the lead to five at the half and eventually held a 59-58 lead with 4:45 to go after two Kendall Jacks free throws.
Upper Iowa regained the lead and didn’t miss a free throw down the stretch, holding on to post the two-point win over Wayne State.
Jacks and Austin Esters each had 15 points and Jordan Cornelius added 10 for the Wildcats. Esters led the team with five rebounds and Cornelius and Brian Goodwin each had three steals.
Wayne State closes the regular season at home with games against Winona State. The women play at 4 p.m., with the men to follow at 6 p.m. at Rice Auditorium.
