WAYNE - (Courtesy: Wayne State College)  Wayne State closed 2024 with a weekend NSIC sweep as the Wildcat women's basketball team topped Augustana 62-55 Saturday evening at Rice Auditorium in Wayne. WSC moves to 6-5 overall and 3-4 in the NSIC with the win while the Vikings drop to 1-11 and 0-7 in league play.
A tightly contested first quarter featured seven lead changes and four ties between the two clubs with Augustana holding a 17-16 lead after 10 minutes of play as Maya Fitzpatrick led the 'Cats with five points to start the game.
Both teams struggled shooting the ball in the second quarter, but WSC opened the quarter with eight straight points while holding the Vikings scoreless for 5:30 minutes to take a 24-17 lead.
A Tate Norblade 3-pointer at the 2:19 mark of the quarter gave the 'Cats a 10-point lead at 29-19 before closing the first half with a 29-24 lead.
WSC made just 5 of 13 shots while the 'Cats held Augustana to 3 of 15 shooting.
The Wildcats pushed the lead back to 10 early in the third quarter, then withstood a Viking rally by closing the third quarter strong to maintain the advantage.
A Meg Rietz free throw put the 'Cats ahead 34-24 with 8:25 to go in the quarter. After Augustana got as close as three at 36-33, the 'Cats went on a 12-2 run to grab a 13-point lead at 48-35 following a Norblade layup with 1:24 left in the quarter.
Augustan opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer to get within 50-42, but the Wildcats took control of the contest with a 10-0 run capped by back-to-back 3-pointers by Carsyn Boswell and WSC held a double-digit lead for much of the final quarter until Augustana got made a trey in the final 10 seconds to make the final score 62-55.
Maya Fitzpatrick had 14 points and matched a career-high with seven assists to pace a balanced Wildcat attack. Kylah vanDonkersgoed also had 14 points while Boswell finished with 12 points on 4 of 7 shooting from 3-point range.
WSC ended the game shooting 23 of 65 from the field for 35.4 percent. The 'Cats were 8 of 31 from the 3-point line and 8 of 12 at the line.
Olivia Hayenga poured in 15 points for Augustana with Isabella Sanneh scoring 12.
The Vikings were 21 of 65 from the field shooting 32.3 percent, going 6 for 17 behind the arc and 7 of 10 at the charity stripe.
WSC held a commanding 51-36 edge in rebounding thanks to 15 offensive rebounds. Norblade grabbed a career-high 12 boards for the "Cats with Abby Kopecky and Rietz adding six apiece.
The Wildcats resume play following the holiday break with a road trip to Bemidji State Friday, January 3rd at 5:30 p.m. followed by a Saturday, January 4th contest at St. Cloud State starting at 3:30 p.m.