On a night meant to remember the good times, Minot State left a bad memory on the old doorstep of Northern State.
Minot defeated NSU 60-50 on Retro Night Friday at the Aberdeen Civic Arena in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference women's basketball game. The Wolves played at the downtown arena from the 1940s through 1987, when it moved to its new home at Wachs Arena on campus. Wachs is filled this weekend with the State B high school wrestling tourney.
The Wolves led 25-21 at halftime, but Minot outscored NSU 39-25 in the second half. Twelve of the winner's second-half points came from Alisha Jones. "She got hot on us and hurt us at the end of the game," NSU coach Curt Fredrickson said.
"It always helps when the ball goes in the hoop, and it seemed like we hit some big shots down the stretch," Minot coach Sheila Green Gerding said. Her team also made free throws, making nine of 10 in the final 8 minutes.
Shooting problems continued to plague Northern State. The Wolves shot 30 percent (18-60) from the field compared to 47 percent by the Beavers.
"All you have to do is to look at the shooting chart," Fredrickson said. "You can't shoot like that and win games in college. And when you shoot 30 percent, you don't even give yourself a chance to win."
NSU made only six baskets in the final 12-1/2 minutes of the game -- four by Megan Mutchler. While Mutchler made six of nine, the rest of the starters made just eight of 38 shots from the field.
The veteran Northern State coach said he is tired of the poor shooting this season. He said maybe it boils down to where his team needs to either get better offensively or needs to get better players.
The Wolves will return to the Aberdeen Civic Arena for their final NSIC and regular-season game against the University of Mary at 5 tonight. Mary beat Moorhead 81-79 Friday night. The Wolves will host a first-round NSIC play-off game at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Wachs Arena.
Even with a 75-67 loss to Crookston Friday, St. Cloud (17-8 and 13-8 NSIC) is still on top of the North Division. Mary (17-10, 12-9) is in second and NSU (15-10, 11-10) and Moorhead (14-11, 11-10) are tied for third.
MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY (13-12, 9-12 NSIC): Lauren Safranski 1-3 2-2 4, Sacarra Molina 6-12 3-4 15, Alisha Jones 7-10 1-2 16, Bridger Rice 0-2 0-0 0, Carly Boag 4-6 1-2 9, Amanda Sansaver 1-5 0-0 2, Morgan Klose 0-2 4-4 4, Savana Kingsbury 1-2 2-2 4, Sarah Lester 0-1 0-0 0, Francesca DeAngelis 3-6 0-1 6. Totals 23-49 13-17 60.
NORTHERN STATE (15-10, 11-10): Sarah Hintz 1-6 7-8 9, Devon Brecke 3-9 0-0 6, Alison Kusler 2-12 2-2 8, Megan Mutchler 6-9 0-1 12, Rachel Krogman 2-12 1-3 5, Sami Smith 2-4 0-0 6, MacKinzie Magner 0-1 0-0 0, Yvonne Freese 1-1 0-0 2, Sadie Stotesbery 1-7 0-0 2. Totals 18-60 10-14 50.
Halftime score -- NSU 25-21. 3-point field goals -- MSU 1-11 (Safranski 0-1, Molina 0-2, Jones 1-2, Rice 0-2, Sansaver 0-2, Klose 0-1, DeAngelis 0-1); NSU 4-14 (Brecke 0-3, Kusler 2-4, Smith 2-4, Magner 0-1, Stotesbery 0-2). Total fouls -- MSU 17; NSU 13. Fouled out -- No one. Turnovers -- MSU 15; NSU 11. Rebounds -- MSU 37 (Boag 18); NSU 34 (Kusler 8, Mutchler 8). Assists -- MSU 11 (Molina 3, Boag 3); NSU 9 (Kusler 2, Krogman 2, Smith 2, Magner 2). Blocks -- MSU 3 (Boag 2); NSU 0. Steals -- MSU 9 (Boag 4); NSU 6 (Mutchler 2). Officials -- Brian Ryken, Darin Berg, Mike Klinedinst.