ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Concordia-St. Paul women's basketball team (10-12, 6-10 NSIC) picked up a big win over Northern State (16-5, 12-4 NSIC) by a score of 83-79 as they took down the top team in the NSIC North on Saturday afternoon at Gangelhoff Center.
 
The Golden Bears controlled the game on both ends of the floor as they converted on 45.0% (27-60) from the floor and limited the Wolves to just 34.8% (23-66) on the night. The Golden Bears were also far more efficient at the free throw line as they hit 20 of their 24 attempts while NSU only made 24 despite attempting 11 more free throws.
 
That advantage proved to be the difference as Northern State held an edge in rebounding (45-37), points off turnovers (24-7), second chance points (19-15) and bench points (21-3), but were unable to use those advantages to pick up the win.
 
Mishayla Jones was impressive for the Golden Bears as she led all scorers with 23 points and hit several big shots, including buzzer-beaters in both the first and second quarters. She also added six rebounds and three assists.
 
Anna Schmitt also reached the 20-point plateau as she scored 20 while going 5-8 from the floor in an efficient evening. She went 8-12 from the free throw line and put up three boards and a pair of assists.
 
Lauren Shifflett and Caitlyn Russell joined those two in double figures as Shifflett had 17 points and five rebounds while Russell double-doubled with 14 points and 10 boards to go along with three blocks.
 
Paige Waytashek led NSU with 22 points while Miranda Ristau added 21 points and 11 rebounds off the bench for the Wolves.
 
After falling behind early last night, Concordia came out firing tonight as they quickly built a 10-2 lead as they scored 10 in a row after Northern State claimed the first bucket. That momentum wouldn't last long, however, as the next 10 in a row went in favor of the Wolves as they took a two point lead late in the first. The two teams traded leads over the final few minutes of the first as Jones poured in a three at the buzzer to put CSP up 18-16 after one.
 
Both teams hit a flurry of threes early in the second, but Concordia maintained a small advantage during the stretch. CSP led by just one at 26-25 before they strung together nine of the next 11 to match their largest lead of the opening quarter at 35-27. The Wolves were unable to close the gap any closer than six the rest of the quarter before Jones hit another buzzer-beater to give the Golden Bears their first double digit lead of the night at 43-33 heading into the half.
 
The Wolves pulled it back to within single digits in the third quarter, but they weren't able to really threaten the Golden Bears as they maintained at least a three possession lead throughout. CSP eventually grew their lead to their largest mark of the night with 4:19 on the clock in third as they went up 55-41. Northern State again closed the gap to seven, but five of the final seven points of the period went in favor of Concordia as they took a 63-53 advantage into the final 10 minutes of the game.
 
Concordia pushed the lead back to 12 in the opening minutes of the fourth at 65-53, but an extended drought saw their advantage nearly disappear. The Golden Bears went scoreless over the next four minutes as NSU scored 11 straight points to pull within one. Jones broke the streak with a bucket as she also drew a foul and completed the three point play. A three on the next trip down for CSP pushed it back to a seven points with just over four minutes to go as Concordia looked to close regain momentum and close out strong. The Wolves made things interesting in the final minute as a three with 18 seconds on the clock brought them within two at 79-77, but Jones iced it at the line as the Golden Bears finished off an 83-79 win.
 
CSP will hit the road for a four-game road trip starting next weekend at Minot State and U-Mary.