Box Score
After a short absence for the holiday break, the St. Catherine University basketball team hoped to open up the second half of the 2012-13 season in a big way against Nebraska Wesleyan University in a non-conference contest before returning to Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) in the new year.
 
Unfortunately, the Wildcats were unable to stop the Prairie Wolves offense as they fell just short in a tough 55-45 loss Saturday afternoon at the Butler Center.
 
The Wildcats kept the game close in the opening minutes before the Prairie Wolves used an 11-0 run to go up by 10 with just over 12 minutes to play in the first half. The Wildcats battled back and went on a 7-3 run in the final two minutes to head into halftime down 32-27.
 
Sarah Mong (Page, Ariz.) opened the second half with a layup to help the Wildcats pull within three. But that is as close as her team would come to a comeback as the Prairie Wolves built a 15-point lead with 11 minutes to play before handing the Wildcats their seventh loss of the 2012-13 season.
 
Mary Neumann (Duluth, Minn.) returned to the Wildcat line up after several games off due to injury and led the team with 12 points. She went 4-for-5 shooting and was a perfect 2-for-2 from 3-point range. The sophomore also led the team defensively with three blocks and steal.
 
Mong finished just behind Neumann with 10 points and also contributed three rebounds, two assists and two steals to the Wildcat effort.
 
Jenna Mistler (Austin, Texas) pulled in a team-high 8 boards, while also adding two points, two assists and a block.
 
Mallory Shanahan had a game-high 17 points to lead the Prairie Wolves, while her teammates Felicia TeKolste and Emily Leines added 13 points a piece. 

The Wildcats quickly return to conference play Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013, against Augsburg College. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 pm at the Butler Center.
 
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