WAYNE – Both the Wayne State College women’s and men’s basketball teams closed out a home weekend doubleheader with another NSIC North Division team in town.
From Rice Auditorium, WSC entertained Northern State University Saturday.
In the women’s game, Wayne State outscored Northern State 18-14 in the first and 17-14 in the second to go up 35-28 at the break. Both teams traded leads throughout the third quarter which saw WSC stay ahead with a 23-22 third quarter and 21-17 in the fourth. Wayne State College recorded their first weekend sweep of the season winning 79-67 to improve to 13-5 (8-4 NSIC) as the Wolves fell to 11-7 (7-5 NSIC).
Halley Busse posted a season-high 25 points (8-12 FG/4-6 3PT/5-6 FT) while Erin Norling added 18 points, eight rebounds and four assists (6-14 FG/1-5 3PT/5-5 FT). Brittany Bongartz added 10 points and nine rebounds (3-7 FG/4-5 FT).
Other scoring came from Haley Vesey with eight points, Josey Ryan with seven points and eight rebounds, Kylie Hammer (four assists) with six points, Autumn Mlinar and Awoti Akoi both scored two points as Taylor Wangerin tallied a point and five rebounds.
WSC shot 24-55 (43.6%) from the field, 8-17 (47.1%) from behind the arc and 23-26 (88.5%) at the foul line.
Lexi Wadsworth paced Northern State with 30 points and six rebounds.
The Wolves finished 21-65 (32.3%) from the floor, 8-34 (23.5%) from the three-point line and 17-24 (70.8%) at the charity stripe.
During the men’s contest, Northern State took a 44-28 halftime lead before taking an 18-point lead early in the second half. WSC cut the game within single points late in the contest but the Wolves outscored Wayne State, 44-38. Final saw Northern State University hold off Wayne State College, 82-72. The Wolves are now 14-4 (10-2 NSIC) on the season as the ‘Cats fell to 6-15 (3-9 NSIC).
Henry Penner scored a season-high 17 points (6-10 FG/5-7 3PT) while Al’Tavius Jackson added 16 points and three steals (8-14 FG/0-1 3PT/0-1 FT). Jordan Janssen recorded his 11th double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds (5-13 FG/2-2 FT) to go along with two blocks.
Other scoring came from Ben Dentlinger (seven rebounds) and Nick Ferrarini both scored nine points, Nate Mohr tallied five points as Nate Thayer and Isiah Burd scored two points each. Janssen, Ferrarini and Mohr all had three assists.
WSC shot 27-68 (39.7%) from the field, 6-15 (40%) from behind the arc and 12-16 (75%) at the foul line.
Parker Fox posted a triple-double with 24 points, 15 rebounds and 10 blocks as Mason Stark poured in 19 points for Northern State. Tommy Chatman added 11 points as Andrew Kallman and Cole Dahl both scored 10 points.
The Wolves finished 29-61 (47.5%) from the floor, 10-24 (41.7%) from the three-point line and 14-26 (53.8%) at the charity stripe.
The Wayne State College women’s and men’s basketball teams will get back into South Division play on Friday, January 24 and Saturday, January 25. WSC will visit Minnesota State-Mankato Friday at 5:30/7:30 p.m. before playing at Concordia-St. Paul Saturday at 3:30/5:30 p.m.