WINONA, Minn. – One night after netting a career-best 21 points, Winona State University senior Rachel Novotny matched that total while collecting her first double-double of the season (11 rebounds) to lead the Warriors in a hard-fought 61-56 victory against Wayne State College Saturday evening in McCown Gymnasium.
Novotny averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds over two games this weekend.
The Warriors carried their late-game momentum from Friday's tough setback into Saturday's opening quarter with Wayne State, pulling in front by a 15-8 count. Winona State forced four Wildcat turnovers in the frame and limited Wayne State to three field goals.
Winona State continued to pull away in the second quarter, building a 19-point lead on a layup by Novotny midway through the frame. Unlike Friday night when the senior forward recorded 17 of her 21 points in the second half, Novotny poured in 14 in the first half on Saturday.
The Warriors carried a 29-22 lead into the break as the Wildcats battled back late in the second quarter. WSU stretched its lead back to 11 points midway through the third, but the home team found itself in foul trouble and suddenly Wayne State slashed its deficit to just three points as the teams went to the final frame.
With the outcome suddenly hanging in the balance, Allie Pickrain knocked down a clutch three-pointer after neither side scored in the first three minutes of the fourth quarter. Kayla Schaefer then asserted her veteran presence for the Warriors by knocking by the final three field goals for the home team as WSU went on to seal its victory at the free throw line.
Emily Kieck, Sydney Lodermeier and Pickrain each stepped up at the charity stripe in the final minutes for Winona State.
Aside from Wayne State scoring the opening basket, the Warriors lead for the remainder of the ballgame. Winona State successfully capitalized on Wildcats' miscues, leading 15-11 in the points off turnovers category.
Winona State improves to 4-1 (2-1 NSIC) with the triumph while handing Wayne State (5-3, 1-2 NSIC) its second conference loss of the year.
The Warriors will now hit the road to finish out the 2018 portion of the calendar year. WSU travels to Minnesota State-Mankato and Concordia-St. Paul next weekend for another NSIC doubleheader.
