NMU holds off Wisconsin Parkside 69-68
KENOSHA, Wis. – The Northern Michigan women’s basketball team secured the No. 2 seed for the GLIAC Tournament on Thursday night, edging the Parkside Rangers on the road 69-68 in the penultimate game of the regular season.
In a back-and-forth battle between two of the top teams in the conference, the Wildcats outscored the Rangers 24-19 in the final frame, the biggest advantage for either team in any quarter, while shooting a productive 8-14 (57.1%).
The Wildcats got the majority of their work done in the paint, putting up 46 to Parkside’s 34. Much of that dominance down low came from Abi Fraaza off the bench. The junior scored a season-high 20 points, going 9-11 (81.8%) from the field to go along with nine rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
Mackenzie Holzwart also recorded a season-high in scoring, adding 18 on 6-10 (60.0%) from the field. Tied 63-63 in the final minute, Holzwart would hit the biggest bucket of the night, a top of the key three to give the Green and Gold a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the way. She also added five rebounds, three steals, two assists, and a block.
Overall, the ‘Cats shot 27-62 (43.5%) to Parkside’s 26-56 (46.4%). NMU shot just 2-15 (13.3%) from three while the Rangers were 7-16 (43.8%). Northern led in rebounds 37-31. The offensive glass played a big role for the visitors, holding a 15-7 advantage with nine of those coming in the first quarter alone.
With the win, the Wildcats have clinched the second seed in the conference and will be home for the GLIAC Quarterfinals on Wednesday, March 5. The Wildcats will play either Michigan Tech or Saginaw Valley State depending on results on Saturday.
How it Happened
Holzwart opened the game with a steal and layup, but it was the Rangers who had the hot touch in the opening minutes, scoring 11 straight with a 3-3 mark from beyond the arc to lead 11-2 just 2:30 into the game.
Northern would add two separate 5-0 runs in the first, but trailed 16-12 while shooting 5-18 (27.8%) over the first 10 minutes. The Rangers shot 6-11 (54.5%).
The sides exchanged buckets early on in the second until NMU scored six straight to tie the game at 22-22. Holzwart followed with an and-one shortly after to give the ‘Cats a 25-24 edge, their first lead since 2-0. The Rangers would hit a three from Sheridan Flauger in the final seconds and stake a claim to a 34-29 halftime lead over the Wildcats. NMU bounced back in the quarter from the field, shooting 7-14 (50.0%).
The Rangers struck with the first five out of the break to quickly push its lead back to 10. Northern had an answer, scoring 12 of the next 14 to tie the game at 41’s just over halfway through the third quarter. Parkside led 49-45 heading to the fourth, with Northern shooting 7-16 (43.8%) in the frame.
Three different Wildcats connected on layups to start the fourth and once again take the lead, 51-49. The game would wind down with seesaw action, with the score deadlocked at 63-63 in the final minute.
With 50 seconds left, Holzwart dumped in a ball to Fraaza in the post who then drew a double team. Fraaza would find Holzwart sliding open at the top of the key and she would connect from deep, giving the ‘Cats a 66-63 lead.
Sarah Newcomer then converted 2-2 at the charity stripe, giving Northern a 68-64 with half a minute remaining. The Rangers responded with a layup to cut it to two. After a 1-2 trip at the line from Jacy Weisbrod, another Parkside bucket cut it to one, 69-68, with 14 seconds left. NMU would miss both free throws to give UWP a chance at the win, but the jumper rattled off and Sydney Whitehouse pulled down the rebound to close out the win.
Up Next
The Wildcats will close out the regular season at Purdue Northwest (6-21, 3-16) on Saturday, March 1 at 2 p.m. ET.
