St. Cloud State
5-3,4-2NSIC
Northern State University
2-4,2-4NSIC
Wortz, Kilboten not enough in 64-56 loss to Northern State
1/23/2021 10:12:00 PM | Women's Basketball
ABERDEEN, S.D. - The St. Cloud State University women's basketball team hit a bit of a snag in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) North Division play Saturday afternoon. Despite playing a strong defensive game, the Huskies fell to conference foe Northern State, dropping their first game in almost two weeks by a final score of 64-56.
The Huskies were the better team in the first quarter, as they rushed out to an early 14-8 lead over the Wolves, seemingly destined for yet another NSIC North Division win. However, Northern State made some necessary defensive and offensive adjustments in the second quarter, though St. Cloud State still held a slim 29-28 advantage entering the locker room at half.
The Wolves were able to take advantage of some Huskies miscues in the third quarter, as they held St. Cloud State to just six total points to take a 47-35 lead headed into the fourth. The Huskies scraped and clawed their way back into the game, forcing Northern State into a six-minute scoring drought while scoring 12 points of their own to cut the Wolves lead to 51-50 with 4:19 remaining on the clock .
A layup-and-one by Katrina Theis (Maple Grove, Minn. / Maple Grove) gave St. Cloud State a 53-51 advantage with under four minutes to play, but Northern State was able to regain a one-point advantage on a free throw by Alayna Johnson. From that point on, the two teams traded leads, with neither holding more than a three point lead until the closing minutes.
It was, sadly, not the Huskies who held the lead late in the fourth quarter. It was, in fact, the Wolves, whose clutch free throw shooting allowed them to hand St. Cloud State its first loss since January 9, 2021 by a final score of 64-56.
Tori Wortz (Hutchinson, Minn. / Hutchinson) was the Huskies top offensive player, scoring 16 points with five rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals. Nikki Kilboten (Eau Claire, Wis. / Eau Claire North) added 12 points in the loss with four rebounds and a block, while Caitlyn Peterson (Lakeville, Minn. / Lakeville North) led the team with six rebounds.
With the loss, St. Cloud State's overall record now stands at 5-3, and the team is 2-2 in NSIC North Division play. The Huskies will return to action on Friday, January 29 when they host MSU-Moorhead at 6 p.m. in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
