Turnovers cost Lady ‘Cats win at Northwood
Courtesy of NMU Athletics
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Northern Michigan University women’s basketball team fell 65-52 on Saturday (Jan. 26) afternoon to Northwood University. The Wildcats had balanced scoring as eight different players got into the score sheet.
NMU is now 10-8 overall and 7-7 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Northwood improves to 10-10 overall and 8-6 in the conference.
After seven ties and six lead changes in the first half, Northwood expanded its seven-point halftime lead to 16 with a 9-0 run to open the final 20 minutes of play.
Down by 15 (48-33) with 12:25 left, the ‘Cats went on a 9-2 run to cut the lead down to single digits. Four free throws by sophomore guard Alyssa Colla, a layup off the fingers of sophomore guard Lauren Gruber and a three-pointer by sophomore forward Brooke Coenen the first of her career-made up the run.
The Timberwolves put the game out of reach with a 6-0 run under with four minutes to go before both teams subbed in the reserves.
Coenen scored a career-high 11 points, shooting a perfect 4-for-4 from the field and 2-for-2 from the free throw line. Colla, Gruber and sophomore forward Abbey DeBruin each finished with nine points.
DeBruin and freshman forward Nea Makela pulled down six rebounds while Colla added six assists and sophomore guard Sarah Miller tallied five helpers.
NMU shot 36.7 percent (18-for-49) from the field and connected on only 5-of-21 attempts from the three-point line. The ‘Cats made 11-for-12 from the charity stripe and outrebounded the home team 35-31.
The Timberwolves had four players in double figures led by Sarah Spring
and Gabriella Rivette with 12 points each. Rachel Church and Aleigha Wylle
scored 11 and Kaitlin Susan tallied 11 rebounds.
Northwood was 40 percent (22-for-55) from the field and 19-for-21 (90.5 percent) from the free throw line. The Timberwolves scored 22 points off of 19 NMU turnovers and had 13 fast break points.
Northern hosts GLIAC North Division leader and U.P.-rival Michigan Tech next weekend. Tipoff on Saturday (Feb. 2) is set for 3 p.m. from the Berry Events Center.