MARSHALL, Minn. – Ashley Arlen scored 22 points and added 10 rebounds to lead No. 4 Wayne State (Neb.) to a 63-52 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference women's basketball victory over Southwest Minnesota State University on Friday night in Marshall.

Wayne State improves to 20-2 on the season, including 14-2 in the NSIC and with an Augustana loss at Minnesota State tonight could move the Wildcats into first place in the NSIC. The loss for SMSU marks its eighth straight, as the Mustangs fall to 5-15, 4-12 in the NSIC.

SMSU was down 26 points with 14 minutes remaining in the game but was able to come within nine with three minutes left but came up short in its comeback attempt.

The Wildcats used their size down low to help defeat the Mustangs picking up 34 points in the paint. WSC finished the game shooting 41 percent (25 of 60) from the field while the Mustangs finished 20 of 58 (34 percent) from the floor.

Abby Kenealy led the Mustangs in scoring finishing with 13 points on 6 of 16 shooting. Bree Holleman added 11 points going 3 of 4 from 3-point range.  Hannah Beeler just missed a double-double finishing with nine points and eight boards.

SMSU trailed 19-12 with eight minutes remaining in the half before going on a 9-0 run to come within two at 21-19. Kenealy and McCarthy scored consecutive points in the paint before Holleman drilled her second 3-pointer of the game to bring the Mustangs within two.

Wayne State closed out the remaining eight minutes of the half with an 11-point run ending when Arlen was fouled on a last second bucket and converted on the 3-point play to give the Wildcats a 32-19 halftime lead.

The Mustangs shot just 24 percent (7 of 29) in the first half while the Wildcats connected on 37 percent (12 of 32) from the field. Wayne State dominated the paint picking up 16 points on the inside in the first half. The Mustangs turned the ball over nine times in the first half leading to 11 Wildcat points.

WSC began the second half right where it left off on the first going on a 7-0 run after consecutive 3-pointers by Clare Duwelius and Ali Schwartzwald who both finished with 10 points in the game. Duwelius was 3 of 6 from 3-point range for the Wildcats.

The Mustangs never gave up after trailing by 26 points at 47-21 and were able to trim the lead down to nine with three minutes left in the game.

SMSU put together a five-point and a six-point run after Holleman hit a big 3-pointer. Hope Bonlander nailed a 3-pointer with 3:12 left in the game to 58-49.

The Mustangs were not able to complete the comeback as the Wildcats came up with two consecutive stops on the defensive side of the ball.

Southwest Minnesota State returns to action tomorrow night hosting Augustana (SD) for SMSU's annual Hawaiian Night beginning at 6 p.m.