5 players score in double figures as the NMU Womens Basketball team defeats Finlandia

(Courtesy of NMU Athletics)

MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan women’s basketball outscored Finlandia by 20 points in the second half in its 78-54 win over the Lions on Wednesday (Dec. 29) evening from the Berry Events Center. The Wildcats are now 6-6 overall after the final non-conference game of the season.

Northern had five players finish in double figures led by freshmen guard Eryn Maday and center Courtney Lemon with 12 points each. Senior guard Chelsea Lyons had 11 while redshirt freshman forward Brooke Coenen and freshman forward Abbey DeBruin added 10.

Maday led the Wildcats on a second half charge with 12 points off four 3-pointers. Lemon added seven in the second.

The ‘Cats opened the second half on a 15-3 run to take a 52-33 lead with 14:22 left. Lemon opened with a 3-pointer and added a layup while DeBruin added two jumpers. Lyons also had a 2-point basket and senior forward Hillary Bowling hit a 3-point basket and added two free throws in the run.

NMU led by four (34-30) at halftime after the Lions hit a barrage of 3-pointers to keep the game close, shooting 8-for-12 from downtown. Brierra Ruska and Samatha Walters each hit two from deep.

Coenen led the ‘Cats with 10 points at halftime on 4-of-5 shooting. Lyons had nine and DeBruin, six.

The lead was a big as 25 late in the game when senior forward Staci Beckel scored a basket with less than a minute to go. It was Beckel’s first game of the season after sitting out the first semester.

For NMU, Bowling, Beckel and freshmen guards Alyssa Colla and Lauren Gruber all chipped in five points. Bowling also had five assists and Lyons had four steals.

The ‘Cats shot 48.4 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from downtown. They shot 6-for-10 from the charity stripe. NMU outrebounded Finlandia 31-22 and added 18 assists and 10 steals.

Finlandia (2-12) was led in the game by Paige Yoho who finished with 17 points. She finished 6-for-8 from the field, including 4-for-4 from deep. Ruska finished with 13 points.

The Lions shot 52.6 percent from the floor, including a blistering 70.6 percent (12-for-17) from 3-point territory.

The ‘Cats get back to Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action on Jan. 5, hosting Michigan Tech with the tipoff set for 5:30 p.m. from the Berry Events Center.

Game Notes: NMU finished 4-3 against non-conference opponents this season…The ‘Cats are 2-3 in the GLIAC and have eight home GLIAC games in the 2012 portion of the schedule.