Wayne, Neb.— Minnesota State suffered its second-straight Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference loss Saturday, falling to ninth-ranked Wayne State, 68-49. MSU controlled the first 14 minutes of the game, before the Wildcats pulled ahead the rest of the game.

In the beginning, a pair of three’s by MSU’s freshman Alli Hoefer and junior Jennie Noreen would give the Mavericks an early 6-4 lead. The Wildcats were held without a field goal for the first two minutes and 32 seconds into the game before.

In the first ten minutes, it was a battle of possessions as Minnesota State forced ten turnovers, leading the game 16-12.

The Wildcats drew its first lead with 6:04 remaining as Ellen Hanson dropped a lay-up in after a Maverick turnover.

Wayne State pulled a 9-0 run together, headed by Ashley Arlen’s four points to pull ahead of MSU 27-21 with 4:25 remaining. Laura Weber would convert a three-point play to stop the run.

At halftime, the Mavericks found themselves down, 33-24, as the Wildcats finished with a 12-3 run in the last seven minutes of the half. MSU failed to make a field goal in the last three minutes and 45 seconds of the first half.

Wildcat center Mara Hjelle lead the first half in offense with 15 points, as junior Laura Weber led MSU with seven points and five rebounds. The Mavericks were outshot 48 percent to 32 percent in the first half. Weber would end the game with 11 point and eight rebounds.

The key for Wayne State’s late first half surge was its 14 points off turnovers and ten points off second chances.

Wayne State came out into the second half and outscored MSU 14-6, to improve its lead to 47-33. A large key for the Wildcat offense was Arlen and Hjelle, as Arlen with 25 points and Hjelle with 20 points.

Minnesota State committed 18 turnovers on the night, as Wayne State would finish with 34 points in the paint.

MSU would end the afternoon shooting 17-of-65 for 26 percent and Wayne State shooting 26-of-51 for 51 percent. The Mavericks would put up 27 three-point attempts, converting on seven for 26 percent from downtown.

Minnesota State (11-10, 8-9 NSIC) will host a crucial game against St. Cloud State Friday at 6 p.m., inside the Taylor Center.

To view the game stats, click HERE