WSC Women outlast SMSU in OT

WSC Women outlast SMSU in OT
December 2nd, 2021 | wscwildcats.com

Thanks to a career-high 26 points from senior guard Kylie Hammer, Wayne State edged Southwest Minnesota State 69-65 in overtime Thursday evening in Northern Sun Conference women’s basketball played at Rice Auditorium. WSC is now 5-1 and 2-0 in the league while SMSU drops to 4-2 and 1-1 in the NSIC.

Both teams struggled shooting the basketball and each team had over 20 turnovers in the contest.

Wayne State took a 17-12 lead after the first quarter with Hammer dropping in eight points while the ‘Cats held SMSU to just 2 of 15 shooting in the opening quarter.

The ‘Cats went scoreless for over five minutes to open the second quarter, allowing the Mustangs to take a six point lead at 26-20 before WSC came back and cut the deficit to three at intermission 28-25.

Wayne State still trailed for the early part of the third quarter until the Wildcats caught fire from the field and outscored SMSU 27-18 in the quarter to build a 52-46 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The ‘Cats made 7 of 11 shots in the quarter, including 3 of 4 behind the arc, and drained 10 of 14 free throws with Hammer dropping in eight more points followed by Kassidy Pingel with seven.

SMSU rallied from a five point deficit with just over two minutes remaining and held WSC scoreless for the final 3:56 of regulation to forge a 61-61 tie and send the game into overtime.

The Mustangs held the early advantage in overtime, taking a pair of three point leads with the final one coming at 65-62 with 2:19 to play.
WSC got a pair of Tate Norblade free throws with 1:34 to go, making it a 65-64 contest.

Junior guard Lauren Zacharias then banked in a 3-point shot with 25 seconds to play in overtime, giving the ‘Cats a 67-65 lead.

Following an SMSU turnover, WSC got a pair of free throws from sophomore guard Annie Guentzel with just over 11 seconds left to clinch a 69-65 overtime win over the Mustangs.

Hammer finished with a career-high 26 points for WSC, going 8 of 14 from the field and 9 of 10 at the free throw line. Pingel recorded her second double-double of the year with 12 points and 10 rebounds while Zacharias also hit double digits with 10.

WSC was 21 of 57 from the field for 36.8 percent, going 7 of 20 from the 3-point line, and 20-25 (80%) at the charity stripe.

Sadie Stelter had 16 points and 10 rebounds for SMSU. Other Mustangs in double figures were Abuk Akoi with 12 points while Jenna Borchers and Madison Gehloff each poured in 11.

Southwest Minnesota State made 21 of 65 shots for 32.3 percent, but hit just 1 of 21 behind the arc. The Mustangs were 22 for 27 at the free throw line.

SMSU held a slight 40-35 edge in rebounding. Pingel’s 10 boards led WSC on the glass.

WSC had one more turnover than SMSU, 22-21. Hammer had four assists to lead the ‘Cats while Fitzpatrick and Hammer each notched three steals.

The Wildcats will be on the road Saturday afternoon visiting Sioux Falls in a NSIC South Division contest starting at 5:30 p.m.

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