The Nebraska Wesleyan women's basketball team opened the 2012-13 season by splitting a pair of games at the Colorado College Tip-Off Classic in Colorado Springs, Colo. NWU defeated Macalester, 52-40, on Friday night then dropped a 71-64 decision to College of Saint Benedict on Saturday afternoon.

In the win over Macalester, the Prairie Wolves defense held their opponent to just 29.6 percent shooting. NWU shot just 33.3 percent as a team, but built a 25-19 halftime lead and outscored Macalester by six in the second half as well to get the win.

Mallory Shanahan had a huge day in the opener scoring 18 points and pulling down 17 rebounds. She was 6-14 from the floor, 2-2 from 3-point range and 4-4 at the free throw line. Shanahan was the lone NWU player in double figures, with Kaitlyn Janata adding nine points and six rebounds.

Against St. Benedict, the NWU shooting struggles continued as the Prairie Wolves hit just 33.9 from the floor. NWU trailed by five at halftime, and pulled within one point with just under ten minutes to play. St. Benedict went on an 11-2 run the next three minutes to extend the lead to double digits and NWU couldn't recover.

Shanahan had another double-double with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Payton Everett also reached double figures with 15 points.

Nebraska Wesleyan now has their home and GPAC opener on Tuesday night (Nov. 20) when they host No. 1 ranked Concordia University.