WINONA, Minn. – A smothering defensive effort coupled with four Warriors scoring in double digits propelled Winona State University to a decisive 58-37 victory over Northern State University on Saturday evening in McCown Gymnasium. It marked WSU's third win of at least 20 points against a conference foe this season.
The Warrior defense forced 11 turnovers and limited the Wolves to just a 23 percent shooting effort. Winona State held Northern State to single digits in the scoring column in both the second and fourth quarters. It was the first time WSU held an opponent to fewer than 40 total points this season after accomplishing the feat twice during the 2017-18 campaign.
Emily Kieck led the scoring attack with 13 followed by Allie Pickrain with 11. Rachel Novotny and Gabie Doud recorded 10 points apiece.
Both sides got off to a slow start in the tilt, combining to score just nine points in the first three-plus minutes of the game. Winona State held an early 6-3 lead that the Wolves quickly erased with an 11-0 run spanning four minutes of the first quarter putting Northern State up by eight. WSU regained momentum before the first horn sounded as Pickrain drained back-to-back triples with under a minute remaining to cut the Warrior deficit to 14-12.
Winona State took over the lead for good when Julia Silloway and Kayla Schaefer driller three-pointers on two straight possessions midway through the second frame. Those buckets sparked a 16-2 WSU run that gave the Warriors a 31-21 lead at the break. Kieck put an exclamation point on the Warriors' first half by taking the ball coast-to-coast and laying it in between two defenders before the second quarter ended.
The Warrior forced eight turnovers in the first half alone, six of which came in the second quarter.
Winona State continued to distance themselves from the Wolves in the third quarter by shooting 60 percent from the field.
The icing on the cake came in the final period as Winona State allowed the Wolves just one successful field goal; outscoring Northern State 12-4 in the final frame to complete the 21-point triumph.
Winona State gets back in the win column and improves to 7-5 (5-3 NSIC) on the season while Northern State falls to 6-8 (3-5 NSIC).
The Warriors hit the road next weekend traveling to Wayne State and Augustana. Tipoff for Friday night's matchup with the Wildcats is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
