Huskies Survive Wildcats 4th Quarter Comeback Attempt, Win 68-65

Saturday, January 4

St. Cloud, Minn.

3:30 P.M.

St. Cloud State

8-5,5-3NSIC

Wayne State

7-6,4-5NSIC

Wayne St. (NE)

St. Cloud St.

Huskies Survive Wildcats 4th Quarter Comeback Attempt, Win 68-65

1/4/2025 11:02:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

St. Cloud State picks up second straight win

St. Cloud, Minn.- St. Cloud State Women's Basketball (8-5, 5-3 NSIC) captured their second straight victory as they defeated Wayne State 68-65. The game started with both teams thriving on the defensive end as the Huskies held a 3-2 lead at the 5:39 mark of the quarter after a three by Reagan Briggs. The offense started to come around for both teams as 19 points were scored in the final 3:42 of the quarter. Wayne State led 14-10 after Maya Fitzpatrick made a buzzer beating layup. The second quarter flashed similarities to the opening frame as it was a defensive battle. The Wildcats did not make their first field goal until the 4:37 mark of the quarter as the Huskies held a narrow one-point lead. Following their initial bucket, SCSU started to grow their lead as a jumper by Halle Vande Hey and a three-pointer by Alana Zarneke gave them a six-point lead. The Wildcats seized momentum at the end of the half as they closed the quarter on a 7-3 run. Despite the late run, St. Cloud State led 26-24 at halftime. Coming out of the break, St. Cloud State started to take control of the game as an 8-2 gave them an early 34-26 lead. SCSU continued to ballon their lead as Kylan Gerads capped off an 11-0 with a layup to give St. Cloud State a 47-29 lead. The Wildcats started to cut into the lead, but Kristi Kottke ended the quarter on a 5-0 run as SCSU led 54-37 going into the final frame. St. Cloud State outscored the Wildcats 28-13 in the third quarter. Wayne State would not go away quietly as a 10-2 run forced a Huskies timeout at the 6:47 mark as WSC was back within single digits. The Huskies worked the lead back up to double-digits as they led 64-54 with 2:24 left in the game. From that point, Wayne State made a ferocious comeback as they ramped up their defensive pressure and used a 6-0 run to now only trail by four points with 41 seconds remaining. St. Cloud State would call a timeout as they would drain clock before Jada Eggebrecht was fouled with 27 seconds left. Eggebrecht shooting 96.2% from the line this season was automatic and gave St. Cloud State a six point lead. The Wildcats called a timeout of their own and quickly finished a layup to trail 62-66 with 22 seconds remaining. Following a timeout, the Huskies again drained clock before a WSC foul. Briggs split a pair of free throws with 14 seconds remaining before the Wildcats drained a three with seven seconds left. After the make, Zarneke would be fouled with one second remaining as SCSU led 67-65. She would split the pair of free throws, making the second attempt. Needing a three pointer and to go the full length of the court, the Wildcats inbounded but were unable to get a shot up as St. Cloud State held off the Wildcats in a 68-65 victory.

Top Huskies

Kristi Kottke had a career game as she scored 12 points on a perfect 5/5 shooting while making both of her three-point attempts. Kottke also tallied three rebounds and an assist and steal. The points, field goals made, and three-pointers made were all career highs.
Kylan Gerads notched her first career double-double as she scored 10 point and grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds. This was the third straight game that Gerads has scored in double-figures.
Paige Lambe scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds while blocking three shots and shooting 5/11 from the field. This was the third straight game that Lambe has scored in double-figures.

Notables

St. Cloud State is now 11-14 all-time against Wayne State and have won five straight games against the Wildcats.
The Huskies led the game in field goals made (25-24), three-pointers made (5-4), rebounds (48-28), offensive rebounds (19-4), points off turnovers (15-12), second chance points (15-4), and bench points (32-25).
Alana Zarneke was the final Husky to score in double-digits as she tallied 11 points on 3-4 shooting while recording four assists and three rebounds. The assists tied her career-high.
Jada Eggebrecht totaled seven points and rebounds along with four assists and a steal.
Reagan Briggs scored six points, grabbed six rebounds, and nabbed two steals. This was the fifth game for Briggs this season where she has totaled 6+ rebounds.
Rachel Kottke scored two points and tallied five rebounds and four assists. This was the third straight game that Kottke has grabbed 5+ boards.
Halle Vande Hey scored her first points in her collegiate career with a four points in a career-high 17 minutes. She also grabbed two rebounds and totaled two steals.
Kora Forsline scored a career-high four points on 2-3 shooting. She also grabbed one rebound and blocked one shot.
Alyssa Stamer tied her season-high with four rebounds while dishing out two assists.

Up Next
St. Cloud State will be back in action on Wednesday, January 3 as they travel to Concordia-St. Paul. For all the latest on St. Cloud State Women's Basketball, stay tuned to scsuhuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.