SIOUX FALLS, SD – In about two months the quarters, semis and championship basketball games will be held in Sioux Falls as the Wayne State College women’s and men’s basketball teams made their first of two regular season trips to South Dakota.
The host site for the NSIC Conference Tourney, the Sanford Pentagon is also the host to home Augustana University games this season as the Wildcats and Vikings clashed for the second time in three weeks Saturday evening.
In the women’s game, Wayne State College took a 23-11 lead after the first quarter of play before Augustana cut back into the deficit with a 22-16 second. At the break, WSC held a 39-33 lead. In the second half, both teams scored 18 third quarter points while the ‘Cats edged Augie in the fourth, 20-16. Wayne State swept Augustana for the first time in the regular season since 2013 thanks to a 77-67 win to now sit 9-3 (4-2 NSIC) as the Vikings fell to 6-4 (2-4 NSIC).
Erin Norling became the 21st Wildcat to reach 1,000 career points thanks to a 20-point night while adding six rebounds and two assists (9-20 FG/2-5 3PT). Halley Busse tallied 16 points, eight rebounds and four assists (4-12 FG/1-4 3PT/7-8 FT) while Kylie Hammer (nine rebounds) and Brittany Bongartz (eight boards/two blocks) both scored 12 points.
Other scoring came from Josey Ryan with nine points and two steals, Autumn Mlinar (five boards) and Haley Vesey (three boards) both scored three points as Awoti Akoi grabbed six rebound and scored two points.
WSC shot 31-67 (46.3%) from the field, 6-16 (37.5%) from behind the arc and 9-12 (75%) at the foul line.
Augustana was led in scoring by Aislinn Duffy with 18 points and nine rebounds. Abby Hora (16 points) and Lauren Sees (14 points) also hit double figure scoring.
The Vikings finished 25-68 (36.8%) from the floor, 6-21 (28.6%) from the three-point line and 11-17 (64.7%) at the charity stripe.
From the men’s contest, Augustana built a 13-point first half lead with 7:53 left in the opening half. WSC chipped away at the deficit by trailing 35-32 at the break. In the second half, the ‘Cats outscored Augie 40-39 and missed on a last second shot to win or tie the game. Final saw Augustana University hold on for the 74-72 victory to improve to 10-2 (5-1 NSIC) while the Wildcats fell to 5-10 (2-4 NSIC) and 0-9 away from Rice Auditorium.
Four Wildcats scored double figures led by Nate Mohr with 17 points (4-11 FG/3-8 3PT/6-6 FT) and seven assists. Jordan Janssen fouled out with 16 points and three steals (5-6 FG/6-7 FT), Nick Ferrarini added 16 points (5-14 FG/4-8 3PT/2-2 FT) and five boards as Henry Penner poured in 13 bench points (5-6 FG/3-4 3PT/0-1 FT).
Other scoring came from Al’Tavius Jackson and Nate Thayer with four points each as Ben Dentlinger fouled out with two points and a team-high seven rebounds.
WSC shot 24-53 (45.3%) from the field, 10-24 (41.7%) from behind the arc and 14-16 (87.5%) at the foul line.
The Vikings were led by Dylan LeBrun with 13 points, Michael Schaefer scored 12 points and Matt Todd added 11 points.
The Vikings finished 26-57(45.6%) from the floor, 12-24 (50%) from the three-point line and 10-19 (52.6%) at the charity stripe.
The moratorium begins Monday as the next Wayne State College basketball outings will be on Friday, January 3 (5:30/7:30 p.m.) and Saturday, January 4 (3:30/5:30 p.m.) when Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State come to town.