ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Golden Bear women's basketball team (4-8, 1-5 NSIC) ran into a hot shooting team on Saturday afternoon in #19 Northern State (10-2, 6-1 NSIC), as hitting 50.0% from the field helped the Wolves to a 86-71 win over Concordia-St. Paul at the Gangelhoff Center. This was the first game for the Bears since defeating Palm Beach Atlantic on December 18th.
 
The Bears shot fairly well themselves throughout the game, connecting on 40.7% (24-59) from the field and 36.8% (7-19) from three, posting their best percentages since playing Upper Iowa on December 8^th. The Wolves, however, capitalized on 16 more points from the floor and scored 14 more points in the paint than the Bears.
 
Northern State also dominated the boards, holding a decisive 46-22 edge in rebounds, and scoring nine points off of offensive boards. CSP did win the turnover battle and scored two more points than the Wolves off turnovers.
 
Junior Anna Schmitt led the Bears, scoring 21 points and dishing out an impressive eight assists, after taking a few games off due to an injury. The Waconia native picked right up where she left off, as she hit her season average and made 7-8 from the line, moving her free-throw percentage to the highest in the conference.
 
Sophomore Brianna Miller and senior Haydn Becker both had career-high nights, as Miller ended with 15 points and Becker with 14. Becker also tied her career-high in rebounds, with five, which led the Bears. Miller shot efficiently throughout the contest, connecting on 60.0% from the floor (6-10) and going 1-1 from three and 2-2 from the line.
 
 The Wolves scored 18 seconds into the game and did not look back, as they held a lead for the entire game. The Bears kept within striking distance for the entire first half, trailing by five at the end of the first quarter and eight at the half.
 
Northern State came out hot to start the second half, going on a 15-4 run, to lead by 19 halfway through the third quarter. The Bears chipped away at this lead and got it to within 13 heading into the final frame. CSP got the first four points of the fourth quarter and to cut the Wolves' lead to nine. NSU answered and went up by 14, but back-to-back threes from Becker and Schmitt got the Bears within eight with 5:17 left in the game. The Wolves refused to budge though, eventually winning by fifteen.
 
The Wolves' senior center, Miranda Ristau, found a way to be effective all game on both sides of the court, scoring a game-high 29 points, while also compiling seven boards, six assists, and five blocks. Teammate Alexis Tappe had a noteworthy shooting performance, hitting 80.0% (8-10) of her shots from the floor, and ending with 17 points. Jill Conrad was the final Northern State player to end in double digits, recording a double-double with ten points and ten rebounds.
 
The Bears are back in action tomorrow as they take on MSU Moorhead for their last game of the calendar year. Tip-off at the Gangelhoff Center is set for 2 p.m.