WAYNE, Neb. – The Winona State University women's basketball team continues to find new ways to win, extending its season-opening winning streak to seven in a row with a 76-73 victory at Wayne State College on Saturday evening.
The Warriors trailed the Wildcats by as many as 11 points in the second half of the contest and faced a 57-50 deficit entering the fourth quarter. The home team extended its seven-point lead to the 5:55 mark of the final frame before WSU caught fire and mounted its victorious comeback.
At 7-0 (3-0 NSIC), the Warriors off to their best start since the 2015-16 campaign that saw WSU begin the season at 13-0.
Freshman Caitlin Riley led a trio of Warriors with double digits in the scoring column with 14, including a big three-pointer late while recording 12 of those points in the fourth quarter.
Taylor Klug was once again a huge factor off the WSU bench on Saturday, scoring a season-high 12 points, with a pair of clutch triples to spark the rally.
Klug's three-pointer at the 2:41 mark followed one by Riley to cap an eight-point run that gave the Warriors a 68-66 edge. With the game tied at 69-apiece, Klug was fouled while pulling down a defensive rebound and her free throw gave WSU a 70-69 lead that held to the final whistle.
Riley added a layup in the lad with 39 seconds remaining to pad the Warrior lead to 72-69 before Klug and Emily Kieck sealed the game at the charity stripe.
Winona State owned a 42-34 rebounding advantage in the contest, pulling down 10 offensive boards that led to 13 second-chance points. Taylor Hustad gathered a team-high nine rebounds and scored eight points. Emma Fee chipped in eight rebounds and six points.
The Warriors depth continues to be its biggest strength as the WSU reserves outscored the Wayne State bench, 35-13 – led by Klug and Riley.
Winona State will return to McCown Gymnasium next weekend for the first time in nearly a month when the Warriors host Minnesota State on Friday, December 13 to begin a three-game homestand. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
