Fraaza leads Wildcats with 15 points; NMU now in second place
DETROIT – In a tightly contested game that saw a dozen ties and 10 lead changes, the Northern Michigan women’s basketball team edged the Wayne State Warriors 66-61 in the Motor City.
Plenty was on the line for each team on Saturday afternoon, as both the Wildcats and Warriors entered the game in a tie for third place in the conference at 9-4. With the win along with a Ferris State loss at Grand Valley State, the Wildcats are now tied with the Bulldogs in second place in the GLIAC at 10-4.
Neither side led by more than six throughout the 40 minutes with more than 75% of the game being played within one possession.
In such a back-and-forth game, every opportunity was amplified. NMU went 17-23 (73.9%) from the charity stripe including 7-11 (63.6%) in the final quarter, while WSU struggled to a tune of 15-25 (60.0%) while just 3-8 (37.5%) in the final frame. Northern also committed five less turnovers (15-10) and doubled up the Warriors 18-9 in points off those turnovers.
The ‘Cats utilized a balanced attack to get the job done offensively. All seven scorers recorded at least six points, with four eclipsing double figures. Abi Fraaza was sensational in the post, leading the effort with a season-high 15 points on 6-9 (66.7%) shooting to go along with five rebounds. Jacy Weisbrod added 12, nine of those coming in the first half, while Alyssa Nimz and Mackenzie Holzwart each chipped in 10. WSU had three in double figures led by 12 from Alyssa Leister.
The Wildcats got off on the right foot with the first six points of the game, but the seesaw action quickly took its course with Wayne State’s Annabel Ayrault knocking down a three to end the quarter and tying the game at 17-17. NMU shot 8-15 (53.3%) in the opening frame.
Jacy Weisbrod rained in NMU’s first three to open the second, but Ayrault had the hot hand with two more triples, giving Wayne State a 25-22 lead three minutes into the quarter. Five ties and five lead changes ensued to end the first half, with Abi Fraaza hitting a pair of free throws with less than a second left to pull within one, 31-30, at the break.
After a WSU three out of halftime, NMU went on a 7-0 run early in the second half to regain the lead, 37-34. The Warriors fought right back with a 9-1 spurt, giving them their largest lead of the game, 43-38, with 3:43 to play in the third. Fraaza heated up late in the quarter, scoring NMU’s final six points to pull ahead 50-48 heading to the fourth. NMU shot 8-14 (57.1%), its second quarter over 50%.
In the fourth, a brief four-point lead for the Wildcats was erased with a 6-0 Wayne State run as the home squad led 54-52 with 6:50 to play. NMU had the UNO reverse card still to play and picked a good time to use it, answering with a 6-0 run of their own to lead 58-54 with 5:52 left.
Northern led 61-55, tied for its largest lead of the game, and despite Wayne State pulling even at 61-61 with a minute to go, NMU would score the final five of the game.
The Warriors had a chance to tie the game with a three in the final seconds, but the shot bounced long, Sydney Whitehouse pulled down the rebound, and then iced the game at the charity stripe.
NMU improved to 16-6 overall and 10-4 in league play while snapping WSU’s five-game winning streak, sending them to 14-8 overall and 9-5 in the GLIAC.
Up Next
Northern will have its final regular season home games this coming week. First, NMU will host Lake Superior State on Thursday, February 13, before welcoming Ferris State on Saturday, February 15 for Senior Day and Play4Kay.
