Sam Thiel/Winonan

Michelle Tobin recorded a career-high 22 points as the Winona State University women’s basketball team fended off a resilient Northern State squad to earn a 49-44 victory Friday in McCown Gymnasium.

Tobin was consistent throughout the game, shooting 9-of-14 from the field on her way to her career-high while grabbing eight rebounds.

As it has been all season long, the Warrior defense was superb, limiting the Wolves to a 31 percent shooting percentage from the floor including just 16 percent from beyond the arc.

Northern State University is the seventh opponent this season that Winona State has kept under 32 percent shooting in a game and the ninth squad who has failed to reach the 50-point mark.

The Warrior defense forced 15 Northern State turnovers, with Katie Wolff and Marieanna Dulas each getting three steals for the Warriors.

Winona State burst out of the starting gates early, scoring 11 points in a row to post a 15-4 lead with under 13 minutes to go in the first half. The Warrior lead increased to as much as 17 in the first half, as WSU took a 30-16 advantage at the half.

Northern State University used most of the second half inching their way back, coming to within six with 5:26 to play in the game.

After a three-point play by Tobin to increase the Warrior lead to ten, NSU fought back, cutting the deficit to five with 20 seconds remaining. The Wolves got a couple of opportunities from there, but missed on its attempts.

Wolff chipped in 14 points for Winona State with four 3-pointers and eight rebounds while also dishing out three assists. Kate Hartman contributed seven points and six boards off the bench for the Warrior cause.

Katie Wolff made a career-high seven 3-pointers as the Winona State University women’s basketball team went lights out from the field to post a 76-54 victory over MSU Moorhead Saturday in Winona.

Wolff went 7-of-10 from 3-point range to record her game-high 23 points.

The senior guard also had five assists as the Warriors shot 53.8 percent (28-of-52) from the field as well as 12-of-21 from beyond the arc. WSU tallied assists on 20 of their 28 field goals.

Michelle Tobin netted her sixth double-double of the season, posting 16 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. The senior had a well-rounded game, blocking three shots while recording two steals and a pair of assists as well.

Marieanna Dulas also had an impressive performance, hitting three triples to add to the WSU effort, finishing with 11 points to go along with four rebounds and five assists.

Becca Friestleben added nine points and Abby Busch chipped in eight as Winona State University improved its record to 16-7 overall and 10-6 in conference play.

The Warriors possessed a five-point advantage at halftime after the Dragons used a 7-0 run in the closing minutes of the first half. That would be the closest MSU Moorhead would get, as the Warriors quickly increased their lead to double-digits in the second half. The Warriors would gradually increase their lead throughout the final half to reach their 22-point win.

Wolff’s seven treys on the game are tied for the third-most in a single game in WSU history. There have now been four games this season that a Warrior has connected on at least seven triples in a game (Friestleben 3 times, Wolff once).

This is also the fifth time on the year that WSU has connected on at least a dozen shots from behind the three-point line.

Winona State will hit the road this weekend when it squares off against St. Cloud State on Feb. 8th and Minnesota Duluth on Feb. 9th.

Contact Sam at [email protected].