Escanaba Grad Nicole Kamin scores 12 points for Lakers
MARQUETTE, Mich. – A tough fight against No. 1 Grand Valley State on Thursday night resulted in the Northern Michigan women’s basketball team taking its third loss at home this season, falling 74-48.
The top-ranked Lakers stayed in the lead for the entirety of the game and although the game hovered on the fringe of single digits for much of the 2nd and 3rd quarters, the Lakers used a 16-2 run early in the 4th to pull away.
GVSU hit 13 threes in total and put up 20 more shots than NMU, going 28-64 (42.9%) from the field. The ‘Cats were able to stay 100% (13-13) at the foul line, but only had 34.1% success in the field (15-44), went 5-18 (27.8%) from three, and committed a season-high 24 turnovers at the hands of one of the top defenses in the nation.
Abi Fraaza was the leader in points for the ‘Cats tonight off the bench, dropping 11 and going a perfect 7-7 at the charity stripe. Alyssa Nimz led Northern in rebounds with seven. The Lakers had four in double figures, led by 20 from Paige Vanstee. Nicole Kamin finished with 12 points, eight rebounds, six steals, and five assists.
The Lakers dropped a three on the ‘Cats to get things started. As the ‘Cats held their own in the beginning, Mackenzie Holzwart scored the first two points for the Wildcats with a jumper inside the paint. The Lakers fought back, hitting back-to-back threes. CJ Romero and Jacy Weisbrod both made their mark in the first, hitting triples from beyond the arc. GVSU was able to force three shot-clock violations on the ‘Cats and seven turnovers in total in the first quarter while hitting four triples of their own to lead 22-10 after one.
Alyssa Hill opened the second quarter with a gentle layup and Holzwart added two more from the foul line to make it 22-14. Grand Valley answered with an 8-0 run to lead 30-14. After a couple baskets from Fraaza and Tierney, another 8-0 run from the visitors doubled up the score at 38-19. NMU then went on a 10-1 run and a Weisbrod triple cut it to 10, but Grand Valley carried a 42-29 lead into the break.
The offenses stalled in the third, as each side scored only nine points. Grand Valley started the second quarter off with a jumper and NMU missed its first seven shots before a Newcomer jumper just over seven minutes in. The Wildcats held the Lakers scoreless for over five minutes as well, but GVSU managed to maintain its double-digit lead. Another Newcomer triple cut it to 10 again, but like the 2nd, GVSU countered with the last three points, closing the third 51-38 Lakers.
Romero hit a triple in the fourth and a Hill layup was put up, nonetheless, the Lakers went four-for-four outside the arc in the first five minutes and managed a 16-2 run in total. Building on its lead, Grand Valley forced yet another shot-clock violation on the ‘Cats. GVSU continued their hard defense and success in the field, finishing the game out with the win.
The loss drops the Wildcats to 13-6 overall and 7-4 in GLIAC play. Meanwhile, the Lakers are now 21-1 and 11-0 in the conference.
Up Next
The Wildcats will host the Davenport Panthers on Saturday, February 1, at 12 p.m.
