Wildcats will learn if they make the NCAA Division Two Tournament Sunday night
ALLENDALE, Mich. – The No. 21 Northern Michigan women’s basketball team fell to No. 2 Grand Valley State in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Semifinals on Saturday, 66-38.
The Wildcats battled in the first quarter, holding several leads in the first quarter before trailing 16-15 heading to the second. The Wildcats remained in striking range at the half, 31-24. NMU’s offense was never able to get going, as GVSU outscored NMU 35-14 in the second half to pull away and advance to the conference title game.
Northern shot just 26.7% (16-60) from the field, its second-worst output of the season. The Lakers were 25-58 (43.1%). NMU made just 3-24 (12.5%) three-point attempts. GVSU led on the glass 46-32, and points in the paint, 40-24.
The Wildcats were led by Alyssa Hill with a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double. Sarah Newcomer also reached double figures with 10. Grand Valley’s MacKenzie Bisballe led all scorers with 19.
Northern will now await its NCAA Tournament fate with the NCAA Selection Show taking place on NCAA.com on Sunday, March 8, at 10:30 p.m. ET.
How it Happened
Sarah Newcomer opened the scoring with a triple, but the Lakers responded with the next six to take the lead. NMU then answered with four straight to lead, but GVSU grabbed the slim 16-15 lead after one.
The Wildcats again briefly went in front to open the second and a three from Addison Pytleski soon after continued to have the Green and Gold in front. The Wildcats were having success in the paint, as Hill scored 12 points with nine rebounds in the first half. The scoring slowed down with halftime approaching and NMU trailed 31-24 at the half.
In the third, the Lakers scored nine of the first 11 to lead 40-26 halfway into the quarter. They’d outscore the Wildcats 19-7 in the quarter to lead 50-31 after three. They’d build the lead over 20 and eventually pull away.
Northern scored just 14 second half points, getting outscored 35-14.
