>Box Score

MARSHALL, Minn. – Wayne State used a late second-half run to down Southwest Minnesota State, 75-61 in the first game of the new year in the R/A Facility Friday night.
 
Annessa Rosch led the Mustangs with 17 points while Ellen Degler came off the bench and recorded 12 points and grabbed six boards. Paige Hendrickson powered the offense as the freshman dished out five assists in the game.
 
The Mustangs finished shooting 44 percent from the floor (24-of-54) while the Wildcats shot 49 percent (24-of-49) on the night.
 
SMSU (0-11, 0-7 NSIC) started the game scoring the first six points to build an early lead in the first two and a half minutes. The Mustangs held a pair of eight-point leads, including 14-6 with 13 minutes and 44 seconds left in the half following a jumper from Ellen Degler.
 
WSC (10-3, 4-3 NSIC) rallied to make the score 14-13 with 10:43 remaining, before Whitney Miller drilled a 3-pointer and was followed by a layup by Degler to push the SMSU lead to 19-13 at the 9:34 mark.
 
The Wildcats countered with a big 16-2 run over the next four minutes to take a 29-21 advantage with 5:16 left in the half.
 
Paige Hendrickson scored on a layup for SMSU to cut the deficit to 31-25 with 4:36 remaining, but it was the last field goal for the Mustangs in the half as the Wildcats extended the lead to 39-28 at halftime.
 
The Wildcats continued to control the game but the Mustangs cut the lead down to just a point with 7:51 after a three-pointer by Rosch. Wayne State would not give up the lead as it went retaliated and pushed its lead back to double digits to close the game out, 75-61.
 
Southwest Minnesota State concludes the weekend tomorrow hosting Augustana College starting at 5 p.m.