NMU Ladies Basketball team wins a squeaker over GVSU
Courtesy of NMU Athletics
ALLENDALE, Mich.- A streaky shooting performance by senior forward
Hillary Bowling led the Northern Michigan women’s basketball team to a
54-52 conference win over Grand Valley State on Sunday (Dec. 18) in a
seesaw affair.
With the win, NMU improves to 5-5 on the season and 2-2 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, while GVSU falls to 4-5 and 1-3 in
the GLIAC. The Wildcats have now won two straight in conference play.
GVSU grabbed a four point lead with just over a minute and a half to go in
the first half before a pair of made free throws from Bowling and freshman
guard Lauren Gruber tied the contest at 27-27. A layup from freshman
forward Brooke Coenen at the buzzer sent the ‘Cats into the half with the
scored knotted at 29-29.
The second half was much of the same as the first, with both teams
exchanging points throughout. NMU grabbed its first lead of the second
half off of a 3-pointer from Bowling at the 9:10 mark for a 46-43 lead.
The Lakers would retake the lead at the four minute mark with a trey from
Briauna Taylor before the ‘Cats tied the game up just moments later with
another 3-pointer from Bowling.
A layup from freshman guard Alyssa Colla at the 2:45 mark proved to be the winning basket, as the ‘Cats held on for the remaining two plus minutes to secure their second straight conference victory.
The game saw 15 ties and 12 lead changes.
The ‘Cats were led by senior forward Hillary Bowling with 15 points on 5-6
shooting from the field and a perfect 4-4 from three-point land.
Sophomore center Annie Rubendunst had another strong outing, netting 11
points and two assists.
The Lakers were led by Briauna Taylor with 15 points and four boards.
NMU shot 40.0 percent (18-45) from the field and 38.9 percent (7-18) from
beyond the arc.
The Lakers won the battle of the boards, outrebounding the ‘Cats 32-22.
NMU travels to Ferris State on Monday, Dec. 19 for a 5 p.m. tipoff.