GLIAC STUNNER: Wildcats Suffocate Lakers 48-37
This story was written by NMU Sports Information Junior Jessica Schultz (Mineral Point, Wis.) notched her second-straight double-double as she finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore Elizabeth Lutz (Marshall, Wis.) tallied seven points while seniors Darby Youngstrom (Cook, Minn.) and Tess Weatherly (Howell, Mich.), and sophomore Amber Huebner (Marquette, Mich.) all posted six points. Senior Sydney Dillinger (Houghton, Mich.) chipped in with five points in the fourth quarter.
As a team, NMU committed just one turnover in the second half. They also shot 45% from three in the second half while keeping GVSU to 15%. The Wildcats faced an 11-0 deficit after the first ten minutes but bounced back. Schultz got NMU on the board with a hook shot inside the paint then Huebner hit a jumper to open the second quarter.
The Lakers replied with a free throw and a three-pointer but Schultz hit a jumper to make it 17-13 with 1:19 to go in the half. GVSU would hit a three and Lutz made a jumper near the buzzer to send the teams into halftime with a 20-17 lead. Youngstrom got the second half started with a layup then Weatherly knocked in a three to tie the score at 20-20 at the 8:20 mark. The Lakers responded with four points before Schultz hit a jumper and Lutz sank two free throws to tie it again at 24-24.
Grand Valley closed the quarter with two threes and Youngstrom made a layup at the buzzer to make it 34-32 with GVSU on top as the teams entered the fourth quarter. Dillinger tied itup with a layup to open the fourth quarter then three minutes in, Lutz made a three to give the Wildcats a 37-34 lead.
With 55 seconds to go, Youngstrom put in two more free throws then Huebner added two more with 25 seconds left. With 12 seconds left, Schultz hit one more free throw to give NMU the 47-38.
The Wildcats improve to 22-8 on the season and matches the most wins in a season of the Troy Mattson era. NMU will now face #6 Ashland University, the two seed of the GLIAC Tournament, at 3 p.m. at Grand Valley State for the GLIAC Championship. The winner will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. |