WAYNE, Neb. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team went into Wayne State College's Rice Auditorium Saturday night to face the nationally ranked Wildcats and held their own until the very end, but the Dragons couldn't find a way to get over the hump and fall, 73-67.

The Wildcats began the game with a 10-3 run to take a seven point lead after 4:31 of play.

The first half would continue to favor the Wildcats as they build their lead to ten points with just under eight minutes to play with 7:57 left till halftime.

Abby Reiter, Betsy Dickson and Haley Thomforde would add a basket each on the next three possessions to cut the Dragon deficit to just three points with 3:24 on the clock, 26-23.

Wayne State's Mara Hjelle would hit a jumper with :38 seconds left to send both teams to the locker rooms with a score of 28-23.

The Wildcats would push their lead up again in the second half after an Ashley Arlen three pointer put Wayne State up 15 points at the 11:55 mark.

The Dragons would respond by outscoring the Wildcats 12-4 over the next 5:23 to trail by seven, but Wayne State would hit their free throws and hang on to an 11 point lead with 4:29 to go.

Back-to-back three pointers by Angie Jetvig would keep the Dragons within four points with just under three minutes remaining, 61-57.

The Dragons would still trail by only four after a Morgan Zabel layup with 1:23 left in the game, but that's as close as they would get to the Wildcats as Wayne State would continue to convert on free throws to take the 73-67 victory over MSU Moorhead.

Jetvig posted 27 points in the effort, Dickson added 13 points and both Zabel and Thomforde tallied ten.

The Dragons are however still alive and well in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference playoff picture.  They are scheduled to play the Wolves of Northern State University on Wednesday, March 2.