Kreuger scores 20 points on 10 of 12 shooting
WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. – The Northern Michigan women’s basketball team picked up its first victory of the season on Halloween afternoon, knocking off the Truman State Bulldogs 79-72.
Raegan Krueger provided a big boost off the bench for the Green and Gold, scoring a team-high 20 points on an efficient 10-12 (83.3%) shooting. She also contributed a game-high eight rebounds to go along with three assists.
“The energy was there and we played with a lot more chemistry today,” Krueger said following the victory. “I took advantage of the mismatches today and my teammates did a great job of finding me.”
Addison Pytleski added 14 points and Faith Walder also reached double figures with 11. Teagan Schoenecker also made her mark off the bench with nine points on a perfect 4-4 clip from the floor.
Truman State’s Morgan Miller scored a game-high 22 points while Lexie White and Sarah Helm each chipped in 17.
Northern made its presence felt in the paint, where the Wildcats were dominant from start to finish. NMU held advantages in points in the paint (44-24), rebounds (39-32), and blocks (5-0).
The ‘Cats shot 29-62 (46.8%) overall and 7-23 (30.4%) from three-point range. The Bulldogs were 22-51 (43.1%) from the floor and stayed in it with the long ball, where they were 10-24 (41.7%).
NMU used a 9-0 run in the first quarter to establish an early advantage and lead 22-19 after 10 minutes. Despite several pushes from the Bulldogs, Northern never relinquished the lead after that, carrying a 41-37 advantage into halftime and a 61-52 lead through three quarters.
How it Happened
Northern found its offensive rhythm midway through the opening quarter, using a 9-0 run to take an early lead. Addison Baumgart knocked down a three-pointer, and Krueger added two baskets in the paint, helping the Wildcats establish a 10-5 advantage.
Walder followed with a three of her own before creating a turnover and taking it coast to coast, pushing the lead to double figures at 22-12 late in the quarter. Truman State responded with seven unanswered points in the final minute of the first to trim the margin to 22-19.
The Bulldogs briefly pulled even in the second quarter, but Krueger continued to provide an answer in the paint, reaching double figures while remaining perfect from the floor. Northern maintained a slim advantage throughout the period, withstanding a hot stretch from beyond the arc by Truman’s Morgan Miller to carry a 41-37 lead into halftime.
The Wildcats came out aggressively after the break, attacking the paint with back-to-back and-one opportunities. Northern scored 10 of the first 12 points of the second half to build its largest lead of the game at 51-39.
Truman answered with a 12-4 stretch, continuing to find success from three-point range and cutting the deficit to four late in the third. However, Northern closed the quarter with six consecutive points in the paint to regain control at 61-52.
Haddie Showen opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer, extending the Wildcats’ run to nine straight points and restoring a double-digit advantage. Truman continued to battle, but Northern kept the Bulldogs at arm’s length down the stretch. Krueger surpassed 20 points late in the contest as the Wildcats maintained their edge and held on to secure their first victory of the season.
Up Next
Northern will close out the D2 CCA Midwest Tip-Off Challenge on Sunday, November 1, at 1:30 p.m. CT, when they take on Minnesota State, Mankato.
