WAYNE, NEB. – The Wayne State College (Neb.) Wildcats used strong performances in the first and third quarter to upend University of Minnesota Crookston 67-60 Sat., Feb. 4 at Rice Auditorium in Wayne, Neb. The Golden Eagles were down just 28-27 after a big second quarter. Wayne State would lead 45-38 going into the fourth quarter. UMC would be able to pull within two points after an Alison Hughes (So., G, Janesville, Wis.) three-pointer with 2:50 remaining in the game. However, Wayne State would fend UMC off led by opportune points from their three post players (Maggie Schulte, Anna Martensen and Paige Ballinger) as they utilized their size advantage down the stretch.

Minnesota Crookston fall to 6-16 (6-12 NSIC) as they dropped their fourth-straight game. UMC still has a shot at ending up in the top four of the NSIC North Division. The Golden Eagles are in sixth place but just one game behind University of Mary and St. Cloud State, who currently share fifth place with matching 7-11 conference records. The final four games will prove to be big ones as UMC looks to potentially host their third-consecutive home NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament game at Lysaker Gymnasium.

Wayne State improves to 17-6 (12-6 NSIC) with Saturday's win over Minnesota Crookston.

The Golden Eagles got a big performance out of Emily Gruber (Jr., F/C, Monticello, Minn.), who notched 23 points and six rebounds on 10-of-22 from the field. Hughes chipped in 12 points, five rebounds and five assists. Kelsey Stinson (Fr., G/F, Cottage Grove, Wis.) would come off of the bench for 12 points on 4-of-6 from beyond the arc.

Minnesota Crookston shot 23-of-64 from the field for 35.9 percent and 8-of-21 from beyond the arc for 38.1 percent. They again struggled from the charity stripe as they were just 6-of-10 for 60 percent. UMC held their own on the glass against a taller Wayne State squad. They would lose the battle by just one, 41-40.

Wayne State was led by their three post players who all go over 5-10. Schulte led the Wildcats with 17 points and eight boards. Ballinger chipped in 16 points and five boards. Martensen chipped in a near double-double of 12 points and nine boards.

The Wildcats were 24-of-61 from the field for 39.3 percent. They shot 5-of-12 from beyond the arc for 41.7 percent. The Wildcats would shoot 14-of-19 from the charity stripe for 73.7 percent.

Wayne State got out to a quick start on Saturday afternoon as they went up 6-0 with Ballinger accounting for all six points. UMC would systematically cut away at the lead as they pulled within two at 11-9 after a Gruber jumper. The Wildcats would use a 6-0 run stamped by a Katie Hoskins old-fashioned three-point play to go up 17-9 going into the second quarter.

UMC would use a 6-2 run out of the gate to pull within 19-16 on a Hughes triple. Wayne State would be able to push their advantage back out to 23-18 on a pair of Martensen free throws. Minnesota Crookston would be able to pull within one after a Hughes three-pointer with 10 seconds left. UMC would be down 28-27 going into the locker room.

The Wildcats would use a 5-0 run out of the locker room led by a Schulte three-pointer to lead 33-27 with 8:33 left in the third quarter. The Wildcats would push their lead out to 37-29 after a Schulte bucket. Minnesota Crookston would close within two points (37-35) after a Gruber old-fashioned three-point play with 4:52 left in the third quarter. Wayne State would respond with a Ballinger basket to make it 39-35. However, UMC would come right back with a Stinson three-pointer to pull within 39-38.

The Wildcats would close out the third quarter on a 6-0 run stamped by a Schulte three-pointer to make it 45-38 heading into the fourth quarter.

Wayne State would use a basket from Ballinger to open the fourth quarter to make it 47-38. However, UMC would not go away as they used a 7-0 run led by five points from Isieoma Odor (R-So., F/C, Bloomington, Minn.) to pull within 47-45 with 8:47 left in the game.

The Wildcats came back with a Schulte old-fashioned three-point play to make it 50-45. UMC would be able to cut the lead back down to 59-57 after a Hughes triple with 2:50 left in the game. However, Ballinger would respond for Wayne State with a jumper to make it 61-57. UMC had two chances to cut further into the lead, but they would be unable to. The Wildcats came back with a Schulte jumper to make it 63-57 with 1:14 left in the game.

Minnesota Crookston would not give in as Stinson connected on a three-pointer to pull within 63-60 with 45 seconds left. Martensen would miss a basket on the other end but would come up with a crucial offensive board and the put-back to go up 65-60 with 14 seconds left to put seal the victory.

Hughes would miss a three-pointer on the other end and Ballinger would hit free throws to ice the game at 67-60.

Minnesota Crookston will continue their road trip in league play next weekend as they take on Northern State University Feb. 10 at 6 p.m. in Aberdeen, S.D.