ST. PAUL, Minn. – At the Gangelhoff Center on Friday night, the Concordia-St. Paul women's basketball team (14-13, 11-10 NSIC) defeated the Winona State Warriors (16-9, 12-9 NSIC) with a final score of 66-47. The Bears have now won five of the six last matchups with WSU.
 
The Golden Bears held the Warriors to less than 40.0% shooting throughout all four quarters of the game and ended on a 12-0 run in the final four minutes to fly to their 19-point victory.
 
Following the tip-off, the two teams were back and forth on scoring while mutually unsuccessful on a number of possessions. Danielle Schaub broke the scoring drought on the court after four possessions with neither team able to execute, putting up a three-pointer to take an early 7-5 lead. The Bears held the Warriors to 30.8% shooting from the floor (4-13) while going 50% (8-16) themselves to have the 18-14 lead at the end of the first.
 
The first bucket in the second quarter didn't come until 5:35 to go with a set of free throws from junior Riley Wheatcraft. After that, Winona State went on a 6-0 run to take a one-point lead over the Bears. The quarter went on to have seven lead changes and despite CSP shooting 18.8% from the field (3-16), they trailed by just one point at the half (26-27).
 
After their locker room meeting, the Golden Bears came back to the court with a touch for the glass again and shot 71.4% from the floor (10-14) while holding Winona to 40% shooting (6-15). Junior Sydney Schultz scored 11 points in the third after hitting five of three from the floor. The forward's big play came on an and-one as she was fouled on her way up by WSU forward, Taylor Hustad, to give the Bears a 43-40 lead. Concordia didn't give up that lead for the rest of the game.
 
Sydney Wentland added to their scoreboard advantage after an offensive board and a put back for two. WSU would get to the line for two free throws before the quarter ended, but Schultz had the final bucket in the paint and Concordia was up 47-42 going into the fourth
 
The Warriors committed six of their 19 turnovers in the final quarter of the game and struggled to get past the Golden Bear defense. WSU hit just one of ten from the floor (10%) and scored three of four from the free-throw line for a smug five points in the final ten minutes.
 
Concordia hit three of their four three-point shots in the fourth, two of them coming from Schaub on back-to-back possessions. The junior was three of five from the arc (60%) and ended the game with 11 points to be the Bears second leading scorer.
 
The top scoring duo for the Golden Bears was Riley Wheatcraft and Sydney Schultz as they each ended with 17 points. Wheatcraft ended on 75% shooting from the floor (6-8) and was the top rebounder with six. The junior also put up a career high in blocks with four against the Warriors, along with two assists and two steals. Schultz was 8 for 11 from the field (72.7%) and contributed one assists, two rebounds, and two steals.
 
Collectively, the Golden Bears kept the Warriors to 30.8% shooting from the floor (16-52) which is the lowest they've held an opponent this season. CSP dominated the boards and outrebounded WSU 39-27. Concordia also won the turnover battle 19-16 and scored 25 points off Winona turnovers.
 
The leader for the Warriors was Taylor Hustad with 13 points on 50% shooting. Their second leading scorer was Emily Kieck with 11 points along with five assists. Emma Fee was the top rebounder with six in addition to three steals and an assist.
 
The Golden Bears will look to end the weekend with a sweep as they face Upper Iowa tomorrow afternoon. CSP will tip off against the Peacocks on February 22^nd at 3:30 p.m. at the Gangelhoff Center.