Two key plays by Holzwart help Wildcats get over the top
MARQUETTE, Mich. – A home game on Monday night ended in a 60-56 win for the Northern Michigan women’s basketball team, defeating the newest member of the GLIAC, Roosevelt University, in the first all-time meeting between the two schools.
With Northern’s top scorer Jacy Weisbrod out for her fourth straight game, the ‘Cats were able to surge to victory for its second straight win. Alyssa Nimz led the ‘Cats in points with 18 and Mackenzie Holzwart chipped in another dozen while leading the way on the glass with seven rebounds. Roosevelt’s Jayla Turchin led all scorers with 19 points while adding nine rebounds and four steals. RU’s Luke Malinka also scored in double figures with 11.
The Wildcats went 22-50 (44%) from the field versus Roosevelt, who went 21-60 (35%). Roosevelt led in shots from the charity line 10-12 (83%) compared to Northern’s 10-19 (52.6%). NMU led in assists 16-4, while the ‘Cats committed 18 turnovers to RU’s 14.
CJ Romero opened the Monday night game with a layup inside the paint. Roosevelt answered quickly, and the two teams seemed to keep this back and forth energy up throughout the opening minutes.
With the Wildcats holding a slim lead for the majority of the first quarter, the Lakers grabbed a one-point lead with three minutes remaining, as Kaitlyn Parker made a layup inside the paint. Though the ‘Cats tried to get back on top, the first quarter ended in favor of Roosevelt, 15-14. NMU scored all six of its field goals in the paint, but active hands from RU’s defense forced NMU into seven first quarter turnovers.
Kayla Tierney hit a 3-pointer outside the arc for Northern’s first points in the second quarter and first points outside of the paint. Fighting to regain the lead, Sydney Whitehouse was able to tie the game up 19-19 with a shot off the glass.
Though the Green and Gold had many opportunities, Roosevelt maintained top of the scoreboard and ended the first half ahead 30-27. Northern was 12-26 (46.2%) from the field in the opening half while Roosevelt was 11-25 (44%). Neither side led by more than five in the first 20 minutes.
As the second half began, Holzwart put up a layup, but Roosevelt widened the gap, as Luka Malinka made a three-pointer to make the game 35-29 moments into second-half action.
The ‘Cats continued to brawl, and evened the score at 35-35 with a 6-0 run of their own. A Tierney triple gave NMU a 38-36 edge, its first lead since 14-13 in the opening quarter. Tierney hit another the next trip down the floor and CJ Romero also connected from deep late in the third to give the Wildcats a 44-40 lead heading to the fourth.
With three minutes to play, Roosevelt ended a 7-0 run and regained a 53-52 lead with a Kencia Levasseur layup. Holzwart answered with a triple, giving NMU the lead once again with 1:40 to play.
With 40 seconds left, RU’s Malinka connected on a deep three to give the Lakers the 58-56 advantage.
The Wildcats missed on its ensuing trip down the floor, but Holzwart swiped a ball from a Laker on the inbounds play and converted a layup with 20 seconds to go to give the ‘Cats a 57-56 lead.
After a 2-8 start from the charity stripe in the fourth for NMU, freshman Addison Pytleski went 3-4 in the ticking seconds to secure the 60-56 victory for the Wildcats.
The victory moved Northern to 11-3 overall and 5-1 in league play while Roosevelt fell to 4-8 overall and 2-4 in conference games.
Up Next
The Wildcats will host Wayne State on Thursday, January 16th at 5:30 p.m.
