This story was written by NMU Sports Information

SAGINAW---Northern Michigan University Women's Basketball kept Saginaw Valley State University to just one point in the second quarter on their way to a 66-52 victory in the second Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win of the season for the Wildcats.

Freshman Emily Mueller (Fond du Lac, Wis.) led the team with 10 points. Senior Darby Youngstrom (Cook, Minn.), junior Erin Honkala (Howell, Mich.) and sophomore Lexi Smith (St. Germain, Wis.) each tallied nine points on the day. 

Honkala also led the team with 10 rebounds while Smith snagged nine and Youngstrom notched eight.  Junior Jessica Schultz (Mineral Point, Wis.) finished with seven rebounds, two blocked shots and had six points.

Schultz and senior Sydney Dillinger (Houghton, Mich.) scored for NMU to put them aheahd 4-0 early.  The hosts hit two three-pointers, but senior Taylor Hodell (Wausau, Wis.) tied the game at 6-6 with a layup at the 6:38 mark. 

Honkala hit a layup in between to SVSU scores, but senior Tess Weatherly (Howell, Mich.) hit a three to give NMU back an 11-10 lead with 3:47 to play in the quarter. 

Honkala and the Caridinals both hit a free throw then Mueller sank a three to answer an SVSU basket to give the Wildcats a 15-13 lead at the 1:38 mark.  Smith made a layup, but the Cardinals hit a three at the end of the quarter to make the NMU lead 17-16 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, NMU kept the hosts scoreless for the first 9:55 of the quarter.  Dillinger hit a layup early, then Honkala and Youngstrom followed with layups to move NMU ahead 23-16 with eight minutes left in the quarter.

Sophomore Elizabeth Lutz (Marshall, Wis.) hit a three-pointer, then Dillinger made another layup to make it 28-16 at the 5:39 mark.  Two minutes later, Schultz made a layup, followed by Youngstrom. With 12 seconds remaining, Youngstrom made two free throws.  The Cardinals finally scored their only point of the quarter with a free throw with five seconds left in the quarter and gave NMU a 34-17 lead as they entered halftime.

Mueller scored the first five points out of the break and extended the NMU lead to 39-17 two minutes in.  Hodell added a layup then Weatherly chipped in with two free throws before SVSU scored at the 5:46 mark.

From the beginning of the second quarter to the 5:46 mark in the third quarter, NMU outscored SVSU 26-1 and pushed out to a 43-17 lead.

After the Cardinals hit a three, Smith answered with a jumper and a three-pointer to make it 48-20.  SVSU responded with nine points before Honkala made a layup with 25 seconds left in the quarter.  The hosts ended the quarter with a three but NMU was leading 50-32 entering the final quarter.

SVSU scored five points to open the quarter before Honkala made a jump shot with 6:41 to play.  Schultz followed with a layup then Youngstrom made a three, pushing NMU ahead 57-37 with 5:48 to go. 

After a couple SVSU baskets, Weatherly sank another three-pointer and made it 60-43 with 3:35 left in the game.  The Cardinals scored again but Smith answered. With 2:12 on the clock, Mueller hit two free throws and moved NMU ahead 64-46.  The hosts attempted to rally back, but sophomore Amber Huebner (Marquette, Mich.)made two free throws in the final minute and NMU captured the 66-52 victory.

The Wildcats improve to 7-2 on the season and are 2-0 in the GLIAC.  The team will now return to the Berry Events Center for their first home GLIAC contest of the season as they take on Purdue University Northwest at 5:30 p.m. with Econo Foods serving as Game Host.