30-0 run; Lakers went nearly 14 minutes without a point
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan women’s basketball team shutout the Lake Superior State Lakers in the second quarter and went on a 30-0 run that stretched between three quarters en route to a dominant 75-37 road win on Saturday afternoon.
The second quarter was as impressive as you’ll see in the game of hoops. Northern outscored the Lakers 19-0, holding LSSU empty on all 12 of its shot attempts while also forcing them into four turnovers. NMU’s 30-0 run stretched from the end of the first quarter all the way into the third. While the Green and Gold poured in their 30 points, the Lakers took 13:48 of game time between scoring.
NMU was over 50% from the floor, going 28-55 (50.9%) for the second straight game. The Lakers were only 14-54 (25.9%). The Green and Gold dominated the glass to the tune of a 46-26 margin. NMU led in bench points 35-7, points in the paint 34-10, points off turnovers 17-3, and second chance points 13-5.
Ten Wildcats scored, with freshman Sydney Whitehouse leading the way off the bench with a career-high 16 points. Alyssa Hill followed right behind with 15 points. Whitehouse and Hill each shot 7-9 (77.8%) from the field. Sarah Newcomer also contributed a dozen. Abi Fraaza pulled down 10 rebounds and Alyssa Nimz swatted three shots as several ‘Cats played a key role in the win.
The first quarter was a sequence of runs. Newcomer drained a pair of threes to kickstart a 6-0 spurt for NMU, but LSSU punched back with a 7-0 run to take the lead. The next six belonged to the Wildcats before the following eight came from the Lakers to take a 15-12 lead in the final minute.
To end the first, Whitehouse scored the final bucket, the beginning of one of the longest unanswered runs in program history. In the second, Newcomer connected on a pair of triples, Whitehouse joined in on the fun from beyond the arc, and NMU blanked the Lakers 19-0 in the frame.
At the half, the ‘Cats led 33-15. NMU was 6-14 (42.9%) in the second while LSSU was 0-12. NMU also controlled the glass 16-6 in the second.
Already on a 21-0 run, the first nine points of the second half also belonged to the visitors. Mackenzie Holzwart hit a pair of threes before the Lakers finally got off of the 15 they were stuck on for nearly 14 minutes with a free throw at the 7:02 mark of the third. NMU edged the Lakers 19-12 in the quarter and again dominated the glass, 12-6.
The margin continued to widen as the game trickled to its end. NMU led by 30, 63-33, with 5:30 to play. The contest ended with the last eight from the ‘Cats as Madison Schroeder went back-to-back on jumpers and Kayla Tierney hit a three for the final fireworks.
Northern outscored the Lakers 23-10 in the fourth quarter and led in rebounds 11-5. NMU also got over 50% shooting in the game with its work late, going 9-15 (60.0%) over the last 10 minutes.
After dropping two at home last weekend, the ‘Cats bounced back in elite fashion. Northern routed the Ferris State Bulldogs by 30 on Thursday and followed it with a 38-point triumph in opponent territory to close out the weekend.
Northern is now 13-5 overall and 7-3 in GLIAC play.
Up Next
The Wildcats return home for a pair, starting with a matchup against No. 1 Grand Valley State on Thursday, January 30 at 5:30 p.m.
