Northern State fell 52-36 to Division I opponent Nebraska Omaha in an exhibition game. While the Wolves struggled with a 2% field goal percentage over the 30 minutes of action, they showed flashes of competitiveness in the third quarter, where they recorded a team-high 15 points.
For the athletes, the stakes weren’t about the win-loss column—which remains 0-0 for both teams—but about the timing of their offensive rhythm.
The struggle for offensive efficiency
Shooting 2% from the field and 11.8% from beyond the arc, the Wolves found it nearly impossible to find a consistent flow. The Mavericks capitalized on this early, jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the first five minutes.
Despite the shooting slump, the Wolves showed resilience at the charity stripe, hitting 72.7% of their free throws.
The third quarter provided the most balanced stretch of the game. Northern State managed 15 points against Nebraska Omaha’s 16, marking the closest the two teams came to parity. Taylor Tool fueled this surge, scoring seven points off three buckets in that frame alone.
Taylor Tool and new additions lead Northern State effort
While the scoreboard favored the Mavericks, several Northern State players carved out productive outings. Taylor Tool led the team with nine points, shooting 4-for-11 from the field and 1-for-2 from deep, while adding four rebounds and two steals.
The game also marked the debut of new additions to the roster. Brooke Jensen recorded seven points and five rebounds in her first appearance in Wolves gear. Addison Neuendorf, though scoring only two points, established herself as a defensive asset immediately, collecting four steals throughout the contest.
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Steals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taylor Tool | 9 | 4 | 2 |
| Brooke Jensen | 7 | 5 | 1 |
| Addison Neuendorf | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Reagan Rus | 4 | 3 | 3 |
On the opposite side of the ball, Nebraska Omaha’s Avril Smith dominated the interior. Smith recorded a double-double with 12 points and 17 rebounds, but her most significant impact came as a rim protector, tallying seven blocks—more than half of her team’s total for the game.
The Division I gap and the road to Kearney
The Mavericks’ ability to hold the Wolves to a 2% shooting percentage highlights a defensive challenge that Northern State will face as they transition into regular-season play.
However, the matchup served as an opportunity for the integration of new players like Jensen and Neuendorf. The fact that the Wolves recorded 12 steals and 38 rebounds shows that the effort and hustle are present, even when the shots aren’t falling.
The focus now shifts from the exhibition struggle to the official start of the calendar. The Wolves have a window to refine their shooting mechanics and offensive sets before they head to Kearney, Nebraska.
The next challenge
The Wolves will open their season on November 13 at 3 p.m., where they are scheduled to battle the Griffons of Missouri Western.
