WINONA, Minn. – Winona State University was unable to slow down the juggernaut that has become St. Cloud State University on Saturday evening. As a result, the Warriors suffered their first weekend sweep since mid-December as St. Cloud State rolled to its 10th consecutive victory with a 68-49 decision over WSU.
The loss drops Winona State to 14-6 (10-6 NSIC) while the Huskies improve to 16-4 (13-3 NSIC), and have not suffered a setback since December 21st.
While the sun was shining outside in Winona, the Warriors endured an ice-cold shooting performance inside McCown Gymnasium. Winona State had shot better than 45 percent over its last five contests and had a 4-1 record to show for it prior to Saturday's season-worst 23 percent effort against SCSU. The Warriors were held to just four field goals over the first two quarters and faced a 28-15 halftime deficit.
Emily Kieck was the lone Warrior in double figures on the day, scoring 11 points to go along with a season-best six rebounds.
St. Cloud set the tone immediately by opening the contest with a 10-0 advantage and never looked back in a wire-to-wire victory. Back-to-back three-pointers by Caitlin Riley and Allie Pickrain slowed the Huskies' momentum temporarily as the Warrior defense picked up the pace in the final minutes of the first frame and into the second quarter to give the struggling offense a chance.
Winona State limited SCSU to just 13 points in the second quarter – the Huskies' lowest scoring output of the tilt on just 36 percent shooting. Taylor Hustad opened the frame with a turnaround jumper in the paint to cut the WSU deficit to 15-10, however, that was the lone field goal made by the home team in the quarter as the Warriors would miss their next 18 attempts. Winona State held St. Cloud to just one field goal as well over the first seven minutes of the quarter before the Huskies warmed up late and took a 13-point lead into halftime.
The Warriors broke out of their offensive slump in the third quarter with 18 points, outscoring their total from the first two frames, but it simply wasn't enough to dig out of the early hole against the red-hot Huskies.
After trailing by as many as 22 in the third quarter, Winona State cut its deficit to nine points early in the fourth on an and-one by Kieck, but the Huskies answered right back with a three-point play of their own and kept the pedal to the floor until the final whistle.
Sydney Lodermeier chipped in nine points, four rebounds and one steal in the setback for WSU.
The Warriors conclude their NSIC North slate next weekend on the road at Minot State and UMary.
