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Huskies keep rolling, beat Winona
By Derek Sullivan
 Media Credit: Christin Osgood First-year post player Sarah Cotner looks for an open teammate last Thursday against Winona State in Halenbeck Hall.
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It took seven games to top last year's longest winning streak. SCSU ran all over Winona State last Thursday with a 87-65 win, and extended its winning streak to four games.
The victory was a total team effort with eight players scoring at least six points.
SCSU trailed 2-0 after a jumper by Winona State's Jenny Johnson, however, that was the only time the Warriors would lead all game.
SCSU quickly tied the game on a jumper by sophomore Sascha Hansen and took the lead for good on a three-pointer by first-year guard Shannon Francis. Barely a minute into the game, the Huskies led 5-2.
The game was played at a rapid pace. Francis hit back-to-back three- pointers, followed by sophomore April Carlson's back-to-back lay-ups. While the Huskies scored 14 points in only five minutes, the Warriors hung with them. With 15:25 to play in the first half, SCSU led 14-13.
SCSU began to pull away with 12:32 left in the first half. The Huskies went on a 10-2 run that turned a 22-19 lead to an 11-point advantage. Ten minutes into the game, SCSU led 32-21.
During the run, junior Andrea Shogren hit the first of her four three-pointers. Shogren finished the game shooting four of six from behind the three-point line.
"Well, my teammates found where I was," Shogren said. "It felt good, so I kept shooting."
The Warriors struggled to stop SCSU. Winona State could pull no closer than nine points, at 35-26 with 8:15 left in the first half.
The rest of the first half, SCSU out-scored the Warriors 16-5. Two free throws by junior Molly Jensen gave the Huskies a 20-point 51-31 lead.
The first half saw many outstanding Husky performances. Carlson made all four of her field goal attempts and totaled 11 points.
Francis and Shogren each hit two three-pointers and finished the half with eight and six points respectively, while senior Jessica Abrahams scored five points and added three steals.
SCSU continued their high scoring act in the early minutes of the second half. The Huskies spread the scoring around taking a 67-41 lead with 12:17 left. Abrahams, Francis, Hansen, Carlson, junior Katie Huschle and sophomore Kellie Heinen all scored during the 16-10 run.
Heinen came off the bench to score 14 points, grabbed four boards and contributed two steals. Heinen has been called on to provide an inside presence for the Huskies, something she relishes.
"Yeah, I like it inside," Heinen said. "I like the physical contact."
The lead increased to a game high 26 points after two free throws each by Hansen and Shogren and a three-pointer by Abrahams. With nine minutes left, SCSU lead 74-48.
Winona State would manage to pull within 18 points, 81-63, with 3:26 remaining, however, that would be the closest the Warriors could get. In the end, SCSU would get their fourth straight victory.
SCSU shot a season-high 54 percent from the field. The Huskies made 30 of 55 field goal attempts. Included in the stat was an impressive 52 percent from behind the three-point arc. Led by Shogren, who hit four of six threes, SCSU hit nine of 17 three-pointers.
SCSU continued to shoot well from the free throw line as well. Led by Hansen, five for five from the line, SCSU shot 78 percent, 18-23, from the free throw line.
SCSU has struggled with turnovers all year. Two nights after turning the ball over 25 times, the Huskies committed only 15 turnovers.
Thursday night's game was also the first in which the Huskies had more assists, 18, than turnovers.
The Huskies outscored the Warrior bench 41-9. Shogren and Heinen each scored a game-high 14 points. Shogren also chipped in with team-high six rebounds.
"We can't let up when we come in," Shogren said. "We need to continue what (the starters) have done."
Heinen, coming off the bench after five starts, was more than willing to play a supporting role.
"I am fine playing my role," Heinen said.
Jensen and Huschle also helped out off the bench. Jensen scored seven points and ripped down five rebounds. Huschle totaled six points, two rebounds and two assists.
The Huskies won by their biggest margin, 22 points, this season. After a slow 1-2 start, the Huskies have rebounded to 5-2. Shogren believes team chemistry is a major factor in the resurgence.
"We are always looking for team chemistry," Shogren said. "It is a major goal this year."
SCSU will finish their season opening eight-game stretch against Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Teams Wednesday. That night, the Huskies battle Southwest Minnesota State at 7 p.m. at Halenbeck Hall. The Huskies are 5-2 against the NSIC, including wins over conference favorites Minnesota-Duluth and Concordia-St.
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