Huskies stifled in 79-58 loss to Wayne State

Friday, February 7

St. Cloud, Minn.

5:30 p.m.

St. Cloud State

16-5,13-4NSIC

Wayne State College

16-7,11-6NSIC

Wayne St. (NE)

St. Cloud St.

Nikki Kilboten tallied her second straight double-double in the Huskies loss to Wayne State Friday night.

Photo by: Kylie Macziewski

2/7/2020 7:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

ST. CLOUD, MINN. – The St. Cloud State University women's basketball team was the hotter than the sun entering Friday night's game against Wayne State College. In fact, the Huskies were riding a 10-game win streak in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) play, having not lost a conference game since December 21. Unfortunately, St. Cloud State's streak came to an end Friday night, as the team fell at home to Wayne State by a final score of 79-58.

The Huskies were completely discombobulated in the opening 10 minutes of play, as they surrendered 21 first quarter points to the Wildcats, the highest total they've allowed this season in any single quarter. Unfortunately, St. Cloud State also couldn't get anything going offensively, as the team managed just 10 points in the first quarter and trailed 21-10 after one.

The Huskies woes continued in the second quarter despite improved defensive play by the home team. St. Cloud State's perimeter defense was especially impressive in the quarter, as the team held the red-hot Wayne State offense to .222 percent shooting from three point range in the second quarter alone. Unfortunately, the Huskies continued to struggle offensively themselves, and while they held the Wildcats to 16 second quarter points, they were unable to score any of their own, as they trailed 37-20 entering the locker room at half.

It looked like things might turn around for St. Cloud State in the second half, as the team forced a quick defensive turnover and capitalized with a layup by junior forward Nikki Kilboten (Eau Claire, Wis. / North). Madelin Dammann (Waconia, Minn. / Waconia) also had a hot hand in the third quarter, as she made four straight buckets from beyond the arc to whittle Wayne State's lead to 13 points with 15 minutes left to play between the two quarters. A comeback was simply not in the cards for the Huskies, though, as the Wildcats continued to add to their lead, eventually winning by a final score of 79-58.

Junior guard Tori Wortz (Hutchinson, Minn. / Hutchinson) provided the bulk of St. Cloud State's offense, as she scored 10 in the first half and led the team with 15 total points at the end of four quarters. Kilboten was also a spark for the Huskies, finishing the game with 14 points and a game-leading 11 rebounds, while Dammann's hot hand allowed her to finish with 14 points on the night.

With the loss, the Huskies overall record now stands at 16-5 and the team is 13-4 in NSIC play. St. Cloud State will look to get back to its winning ways on Saturday, February 8 as the team hosts Augustana University at 3:30 p.m. in Halenbeck Hall.