Wayne Neb.- Wayne State used combined efforts by Halley Busse (28) and Erin Norling (25) who contributed 53 of the teams 74 points handing SMSU a 74-60 defeat in NSIC women's basketball Friday night in the Rice Auditorium.
 
SMSU falls to 7-4 overall, and 5-4 in the NSIC South, falling down a position to Minnesota State, with the NSIC Tournament beginning in two weeks, only the top four teams from the North and South advance to the tournament. WSC held its position at sixth in the south, moving its record to 6-7 overall, 5-6 in the NSIC South. 
 
SMSU ended the night shooting 35.7 percent (20 of 56) with the Mustangs leading scorer; Jenna Borchers putting up 14 points along with earning the teams only block on the night. Meleah Reinhart was right behind Borchers in points recording 13 for herself. Sara Teske led her team with nine rebounds, eight of which were offensive rebounds, along with tying her season high rebound record which she achieved in the first game of the 2020-21 season against Minot State.  
 
Wayne State shot 42.9 percent (24 of 56) along with winning the turnover advantage 21-11, which WSC was able to earn 25 points on. Halley Busse led her team in points and assists with 28 points and six assists. Wayne State also had Erin Norling earn 25 points, along with grabbing nine rebounds. 
 
In the first half SMSU would go on a nine-point run being started by a Jenna Borchers 3-pointer tying the two teams at 12 with 1:03 left in the first quarter. Sadie Stelter would go to the line and sink both of her free-throws, and the run would be capped off with 9:25 in the second quarter by a Teske layup. This run helped push the Mustangs to its biggest lead of the game. WSC would rally using a 6-5 run with 2:04 left in the second quarter giving them the 29-28 lead going into half time. 
 
In the second half the SMSU would commit nine of its 21 turnovers with six of them coming in the third quarter where Wayne State had a 13-point run being started by a Busse three, pushing the Bobcats lead 45-40, from there Busse would sink another three and make a layup. Norling also had a layup and would be the one to end the run with a 3-pointer of her own, pushing the score 55-40 and leading the Bobcats to score 32 points in the third quarter. 
 
SMSU would make a push mid-way through the fourth quarter getting the score within eight (63-55) off of a Reinhart layup and making both of her free-throws. SMSU would hold onto this eight-point difference until late in the fourth where Busse would go on a six point run of her own pushing the score 73-59 and sealing the game. 
 
SMSU will conclude the series against Wayne State tomorrow afternoon, with tip of set for 2:30 p.m. in the Rice Auditorium.