Women’s B-Ball: NMU loses season opener

Courtesy of NMU Athletics

MARQUETTE, Mich.- A late rally by the Northern Michigan women’s
basketball team in its home opener fell short, as the Wildcats fell to
Minnesota-Duluth 63-60 on Sunday (Nov. 13) at the Berry Events Center.

NMU (0-1) held the lead for most of the first half before UMD (1-0) took
over at the 6:44 mark off of a pair of made free throws from Courtney
Doucette. The ‘Cats cut the Bulldogs lead to one point down the stretch
but were unable to take a lead as UMD entered the bonus.

Despite NMU’s foul trouble, UMD entered the half up by just one point, 32-31.

Out of the break, the ‘Cats were able to regain the lead off of a Chelsea
Lyons layup but were unable to hold on to it for long as the Bulldogs
regained the lead for good at the 15:55 mark off of a Kristina Newman
3-pointer.

NMU trailed by five with three seconds left before senior forward Hillary
Bowling knocked down one of her three 3-pointers on the afternoon. After
Katrina Newman split a pair of free throws, the ‘Cats had no time left to
grab a rebound and get a shot off for the tie.

Senior guard Chelsea Lyons paced the ‘Cats with 17 points, eight rebounds
and two steals. Freshman guard Alyssa Colla netted 12 points and five
rebounds in her first collegiate start.

The ‘Cats shot only 32.3 percent from the field and 30 percent from beyond
the arc.

For the Bulldogs, starters Katrina Newman and Courtney Doucette combined to score 41 of the teams 63 points, netting 21 and 20 respectively.

UMD outrebounded NMU 52-39, picking up 31 rebounds and limiting the ‘Cats to only eight second chance points.

NMU forced 16 turnovers on 10 team steals and allowed the Bulldogs only
three points off the bench.

NMU is back in action next weekend (Nov. 18-19) at the Northwood Classic
at Northwood University. The ‘Cats face Alma College at 8 p.m., Friday
(Nov. 18).