Rubendunst leads NMU women past T’Wolves

Courtesy of NMU Athletics

MIDLAND, Mich. – The Northern Michigan University women’s basketball team was victorious over Northwood University, 56-46, on Saturday (Feb. 22) in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game in Midland, Mich.

The Wildcats improved to 18-7 overall and 15-6 in the GLIAC. The Timberwolves drop to 13-12 and 11-10 in conference play.

NMU led the entire game, starting the game off on two jump shots by senior forward Annie Rubendunst for a 4-0 Wildcat lead. To close the half, junior guard Alyssa Colla and junior forward Courtney Lemon each sank shots from beyond the arc to give NMU a 30-22 lead going into the break, its largest lead of the first half.

Rubendunst led all scorers with 10 points at the half while Colla added five. NMU shot 10-25 (40 percent) from the floor and were 4-6 at the free throw line. The Wildcats held the Timberwolves to 29.2 percent (7-24) shooting in the half.

In the second half, the Wildcats went on two 5-0 runs within the last eight minutes of play to go up 56-37, NMU’s largest lead of the game. Junior guard Lauren Gruber contributed with five points in the two runs. In the last 1:44, the Timberwolves went on their own 9-0 run to close out the game.

Rubendunst finished with a game-high 17 points. Gruber added 12 points and led the team in rebounds with eight total.

The Wildcats shot 21-53 (39.6 percent) from the floor and were 7-9 (77.8 percent) from the charity stripe. NMU outrebounded Northwood, 42-28.

Emily Kutch led the Timberwolves with nine points and Sarah Susan had seven.

Northwood shot 12-48 (25 percent) and were 19-22 (86.4 percent) from the free throw line.

The Wildcats close out the regular season on Thursday (Feb. 27) as NMU hosts Michigan Technological University at 5:30 p.m. at the Berry Events Center.