WAYNE – Senior day took center stage for the Wayne State College women’s and men’s basketball teams Saturday evening closing out their final regular season home games with a road weekend doubleheader on the schedule in late February.
From Rice Auditorium on the campus of Wayne State College, the ‘Cats welcomed in Minnesota State-Mankato. Taylor Wangerin and Evelyn Knox were honored for the Wildcat women as well as Al’Tavius Jackson and Obi Patrick for the Wildcat men during senior day.
In the women’s game, Minnesota State made nine first half three-pointers and led for the entire game to win 93-80. The Maverick women improve to 14-10 (11-9 NSIC) while the ‘Cats fell to 16-10 (11-9 NSIC).
Minnesota State led 27-23 after the first quarter and took a 55-37 lead into the locker room. WSC chipped away at the deficit with a 27-19 third but Minnesota State outscored WSC 19-16 in the fourth.
Three Wildcats posted double figure scoring led by Erin Norling with 26 points and seven rebounds (8-12 FG/3-5 3PT/7-9 FT). Halley Busse, with five assists (5-9 FG/1-4 3PT/2-2 FT) and Kylie Hammer (4-7 FG/1-4 3PT/4-5 FT) both scored 13 points.
Other scoring came from Autumn Mlinar with eight points, Brittany Bongartz added six points and 10 rebounds, Haley Vesey and Lauren Zacharias both scored four points as Josey Ryan, Kassidy Pingel and Ashley Gustavson all tallied two points.
WSC finished 27-63 (42.9%) from the floor, 5-22 (22.7%) from the three-point line and 21-25 (84%) at the free throw line.
Minnesota State-Mankato also had three players with double figures led by Joey Batt with 22 bench points. Tayla Stuttley poured in 21 points while Kirsti Fett recorded a double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds.
The Maverick women shot 34-73 (46.6%) from the field, 12-26 (46.2%) from behind the arc and 13-17 (76.5%) at the charity stripe.
The men’s contest saw 12 ties and five lead changes as the Wildcats forced back-to-back nights of overtime basketball but Minnesota State held on for the 72-70 victory. The Mavericks are now 14-12 (12-8 NSIC) as WSC dropped their fourth straight at 10-19 (7-13 NSIC).
Minnesota State led 30-23 at half before WSC won the second half battle 38-31. The Mavericks outscored the ‘Cats 11-9 in overtime.
Jordan Janssen posted his 15th double-double with 15 points (all in second half) and 10 rebounds to go along with seven assists (6-17 FG/3-5 FT). Nick Ferrarini added 13 points and six rebounds (4-19 FG/2-7 3PT/3-6 FT) while Nate Mohr scored 12 points (4-11 FG/4-9 3PT).
Other scoring saw Al’Tavius Jackson finish with nine points, Ben Dentlinger tallied eight points and 10 boards, Nate Thayer tacked on six points and six boards, Isiah Burd scored five points and Henry Penner tallied two points.
WSC finished 24-81 (29.6%) from the floor, 7-21 (33.3%) from the three-point line and 15-21 (71.4%) at the free throw line.
Two Mavericks recorded double-doubles from Cameron Kirksey with 19 points and 11 rebounds while Kelby Kramer finished with 13 points and 19 rebounds. Kevin Krieger tallied 16 points.
The Maverick men shot 25-66 (37.9%) from the field, 2-24 (8.3%) from behind the arc and 20-27 (74.1%) at the charity stripe.
The Wayne State College women’s and men’s basketball teams will next close out their season at Southwest Minnesota State on Friday, February 21 and at Sioux Falls on Saturday, February 22.