With a lot riding on Friday night’s women’s college basketball game between Northern State and the University of Sioux Falls, the atmosphere in Wach’s Arena felt like a home playoff game for the Wolves.

The hosts rose to the challenge for a 75-72 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference victory before a loud and supportive NSU crowd.

“First of all, thank you to the Northern State faithful. What a crowd,” said NSU coach Paula Krueger. “The energy in here was electric and that’s two really good basketball teams just leaving it all on the floor.”

With the NSIC Tournament taking place next week, the first four seeds get a first-round bye and a ticket straight to the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, while the next eight teams battle it out for four remaining spots at the Pentagon.

Before the game, the Wolves were sitting fourth in the league standings with a 13-7 record, followed by Sioux Falls with a 12-8 record. The win would guarantee the Wolves the four spot, however a loss would have put the team in danger of possibly falling to fifth, so there was a lot at stake in the contest.

NSU center Madelyn Bragg looked at it as just another game, while acknowledging it was a key contest.

“I mean, yeah, a little bit, but at the same time, it’s just like you gotta come in and play how you always play,” said Bragg. “It’s just another game. If we lost this game, you gotta play a play-in, but that’s all our focus was on was getting a win today and that’s what we did.”

Wolves’ point guard Rianna Fillipi said she could feel the intensity and noted the team rose to the challenge.

“A whole lot of pressure, but you know, everyone says pressure is a privilege and it 100 percent is,” Fillipi said. “I think this team did a great job handling that pressure tonight and it just made it that much more fun.”

In an all-out slugfest as the teams fought for the final bye in the opening round of next week’s tourney, it was Fillipi, a fifth-year player, who sealed the deal for the Wolves with a layup to give the hosts a three-point lead with 1:35 remaining in the game.

Fillipi finished with a career-high 27 points, set a new school record for most career steals, and recorded a double-double.

“Nothing really amazes me with her. After five years, she finds a way to do things,” said Krueger. “What a miraculous way for Rio to be ending her home stance here.”

Filippi gave the credit to the NSU faithful fans who helped take some of the weight off her shoulders.

“I’ve said this three times tonight and I’ll say it again. It feels like the weight of the world is on your shoulders and every single person in this building is helping you hold it,” Filippi said. “That’s just what Northern State women’s basketball, and any basketball, is here. It’s an unreal tradition.”

With the win, the Wolves have locked in the fourth seed and will face the winner of the fifth-seed and 12th-seed on Sunday, March 2, instead of having a play-in game next Wednesday.

“What was important for us was rest. You know, we’re playing with a short bench. We’ve got some people that are banged up a little bit,” said Krueger. “And to not have a game to prep for on Wednesday, I think for us is a benefit to just give us a little time to recuperate.”

The Wolves have one final game at Wachs Arena as they take on 17th-ranked Southwest Minnesota State at 6 tonight.

To see a complete box score of the game, click on the following link:

https://nsuwolves.com/sports/womens-basketball/stats/2024-25/sioux-falls/boxscore/13752