Wildcats dominate Lakers 67-44

MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan women's basketball team extended its winning streak to four games on Thursday evening, putting away the Lake Superior State Lakers with a commanding 67-44 win.

Controlling the entirety of the game, the only lead the Lakers managed was in the first five minutes. The 'Cats held the Lakers to less than 25% from the field in the second and third quarters of the game while shooting at least 50% in each of the first and second quarters themselves. 

The Wildcats shot well overall, going 27-59 (45.8%) while holding LSSU to a tune of 17-56 (30.4%). Though both teams' three-point percentages were 25% or less, the 'Cats forced 16 Laker turnovers, converting for 14 points off of them. NMU also pulled down a dozen more rebounds, 44-32, while also handling scoring in the paint, 44-20. 

Freshman Sydney Whitehouse paced the Wildcats with a season-high 17 points, going 6-8 from the floor. Alyssa Hill followed in points with 14, while Jacy Weisbrod was closely behind with 13 on a 3-4 mark from three. All 12 'Cats had a rebound while 11 of 12 scored. 

A slow start led the Lakers to get the first two points of the game. The Wildcats quickly answered back with a Weisbrod triple from the top of the arc. The Lakers hit a layup and three-pointer soon after to hold an 8-4 lead a few minutes in, but after a timeout, Mackenzie Holzwart and Alyssa Hill made baskets to regain the lead.

NMU broke out on an 8-0 run overall, scoring all four buckets in the paint. After a 2-9 start from the field, Northern ended the first 6-7 and held a 19-13 lead.  

LSSU opened the second quarter with a triple, but Whitehouse hit an and-one to answer back, and Kayla Tierney put up a layup to keep the 'Cats in the lead 25-16. Continuing with hard play, Weisbrod hit yet another three-pointer from the side to make it 34-19 with five minutes remaining before halftime. NMU started the quarter 6-6 and went on a seven-minute stretch of 12-13 from the floor dating back to the first. NMU's defense kept the Lakers in check, holding them scoreless for six minutes and leaving them 3-16 (18.8%) in the field in the second.

Northern led 39-23 at the break, shooting 15-26 (57.7%) in the half and 7-10 (70.0%) in the second quarter. Weisbrod led NMU with 11 points while Whitehouse followed with nine, each going 4-5 from the field. 

Hill hit the first three baskets to get the third quarter underway. Holzwart found Newcomer making a run under the net and put up two to give the 'Cats its first 20+ point lead of the game (47-25). Whitehouse added another few points to the Wildcats' score and Madison Schroeder made her mark on the game with a jumper inside the paint. With more outstanding play, the NMU defense allowed only six points for the Lakers in the third, stretching its lead to 55-29 heading to the fourth. 

Whitehouse continued to make her presence known in the fourth, notching another bucket at the rim while Schroeder followed with a jumper to further the gap up to 30 points (59-29). Hill hit one off the glass and Ava Bates found a basket with a swift layup under the net. The Lakers put up a few points in between, but ultimately NMU cruised to the finish line for the win. 

Northern improved to 17-6 overall and 11-4 in conference, while LSSU dropped to 5-18 overall and 2-13 in GLIAC play. 

Up Next The Wildcats will face Ferris State, tied at 11-4 for second place in the GLIAC, on Saturday at 1 p.m. Both teams will come together to support the Play4Kay fundraiser along with Northern honoring their seniors.