Box Score MANKATO, Minn. – The top team in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference showed its power Saturday afternoon as the No. 4 Wayne State Wildcats defeated Minnesota State, 83-45 at the Taylor Center.
 
Despite not scoring a basket until 3:15 into the game, MSU was able to battle back to a three-point deficit at 15-12 with 13 minutes remaining.  However, Wayne State dominated in the paint in the first half outscoring the Mavericks, 26-4, as it extended its lead to 26 at halftime.
 
Wayne State’s Eva Benson had a perfect first half scoring 14 points on 7-of-7 from the field while also pulling down four rebounds to lead the Wildcats who shot 66.7 percent from the floor in the half.
 
The second half was much of the same for MSU as Wayne State outscored the Mavericks, 37-25, as the Wildcat shooting was too consistent to mount any attempt of a comeback.
 
The Wildcats shot 61.7 from the field including 9-of-18 (50.0 3FG%) from long range while MSU connected on just 28.8 percent of its attempts and just 3-of-16 (18.8 3FG%) from three-point range.
 
Wayne State finished the game with 36 points in the paint compared to 18 by MSU while also outrebounding the Mavericks, 38-28.
 
MSU was led by two players in double figures as senior forward Laura Weber and freshman guard Aubrey Davis each scored 10 points.
 
Ashley Arlen led all scorers as she helped the Wildcats improve with 21-2 overall and 15-2 in the NSIC with her 20-point, five-rebound performance.  Benson finished the game 8-of-8 from the floor en route to scoring 16 points while adding six rebounds.
 
Minnesota State (14-7, 10-7 NSIC) is back on the road for its next action as the Mavericks take on St. Cloud State Friday, Feb. 10 at 6 p.m.