Wildcats outscore Lakers in each quarter
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – The No. 13 Northern Michigan women’s basketball team outscored the Lake Superior State Lakers in every quarter en route to an 80-61 road victory on Thursday night at Bud Cooper Gymnasium.
The Wildcats remained perfect on the road, improving their record to 8-0 as the visitor. Overall, they are 14-3 and 5-2 in the GLIAC. NMU has also won 11 straight games over the Lakers and 23 of the past 24.
After a tight 20-16 advantage through one, NMU’s offense opened up with 27 points in the second frame to carry a 47-36 lead into halftime. With the first six points of the second half, the Wildcats commanded a double-digit lead the rest of the night.
Freshman Faith Walder provided a spark off the bench with a season-best 19 points on an efficient 7-10 from the floor while connecting on both of her triple attempts. She scored 10 points in the second quarter to help create separation and seven more in the final frame to put the game on ice.
Jacy Weisbrod led the ‘Cats with 21 points and added nine rebounds, one off her career-high. Jordyn Schmittdiel led the way with 10 boards to lead a 46-29 advantage on the glass. She also had a game-high three steals.
Northern held a 20-7 edge in offensive rebounds and a 20-5 advantage in second-chance points. The Wildcats played from the paint throughout the night, scoring 50 points down low to LSSU’s 24.
Sarah Newcomer reached double figures with 13, while LSSU was paced by Seyyane Matthew with 18.
How it Happened
Sarah Newcomer opened the scoring for NMU by answering an early LSSU three, sparking a 6-0 Wildcat run. The Lakers responded in kind, rattling off six straight of their own as the two teams traded momentum in the opening minutes.
The pace stayed fast through the media timeout, with Lake Superior holding a narrow 14-12 edge with 3:58 remaining in the quarter. Northern closed the frame strong, however, scoring eight of the final 10 points to carry a 20-16 advantage into the second quarter.
Lake Superior State once again opened the quarter with a three to start the second, but Northern answered with its best stretch of the half. The Wildcats put together an 11-2 run, fueled by four points from Faith Walder, to push the lead into double figures at 31-21 with 5:16 remaining.
Northern remained in rhythm offensively. Newcomer became the first Wildcat into double figures on back-to-back buckets. Weisbrod then joined her, as NMU maintained a steady 10-point cushion at 40-30 with two minutes left in the half. Walder capped a strong second quarter by knocking down a three in the final minute, giving her 10 points in the period and 12 at the break. Newcomer added another triple in the closing seconds, sending the Wildcats into halftime with a 47-36 advantage.
Northern shot an efficient 19-35 (54.3%) in the opening half, showcasing a balanced scoring effort led by Newcomer (13 points), Walder (12), and Weisbrod (10).
Northern picked up right where it left off coming out of the locker room, scoring the first six points of the second half to extend its lead to 53-36. LSSU briefly cut the deficit back to a dozen, but Addison Pytleski halted any momentum with three straight baskets, as multiple players delivered timely contributions during the game.
The Wildcats held a 63-49 advantage going into the fourth.
Weisbrod opened the fourth quarter by knocking down a three, her first of the game, and followed by scoring Northern’s first seven points of the quarter. Walder added seven more points of her own, as the Wildcats stayed in control throughout the final 10 minutes, outscoring the Lakers 17-12 in the fourth.
The Wildcats won all four quarters on the night and closed out the 80-61 victory in convincing fashion.
Up Next
The Wildcats will now travel below the Mackinac Bridge and into Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, with a destination of Saginaw, where the ‘Cats will face the Cardinals on Saturday, Jan. 17, at 1 p.m.
