NMU Ladies Wrap Up Grueling Weekend With Win

Stories written by NMU Sports Information. Click the AUDIO buttons to hear post-game comments from Makaylee Kuhn and Coach Troy Mattson. Also hear the player spotlight interview with senior Liz Lutz.

SUNDAY GAME RECAP

MARQUETTE, Mich.- The Northern Michigan University women's basketball finishes out their home portion of the regular season in a back and forth shootout against the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Sunday.

Makaylee Kuhn captured a season-high 28 points and grabbed a double-double in Northern's 62-56 win.

The Wildcats were paced by Makaylee Kuhn who scored 16 points in the first half, playing 17 minutes.

Ana Rhude was second on the team in rebounds with five, following right behind was Kuhn with eight.

Taya Stevenson and Elizabeth Lutz both grabbed one steal throughout the first half.

Parkside got the ball rolling early into the third quarter, knocking down a three to gain the lead. Taya Stevenson answered back for Northern, as she hit the mid-range jumper to keep the game within reach.

Stevenson pulled down the offensive rebound to help Northern keep possession of the ball, finding Makaylee Kuhn, who dropped one in over the Ranger's defense.

NMU and UWP battled it out through the third quarter but the Rangers came out on top by a score of 38-36. Head Coach Troy Mattson looked to draw something up to push the 'Cats out on top going into the fourth.

Elizabeth Lutz made her way to the free-throw line early in the fourth quarter, dropping in a pair of buckets to tie the game up.

Lutz worked her way into the paint on the next offensive possession, going up for the lay-up and getting a hard foul on the way down, knocking down both from the charity stripe.

Makaylee Kuhn dribbled her way into the paint and drew a double team from the Parkside defense, scoring an easy jumper. The Wildcats led 42-40 with 7:17 left to play in the fourth.

Lutz dropped in an electric three-point shot from way beyond the arc off a pass from Kuhn, 'Cats led 47-42 with 5:13 to play.

The buckets continued to come easy for Kuhn, as she knocked in another jumper from the paint, continuing to pace the 'Cats lead.

Kuhn's play energized the Wildcats lineup as Lutz dropped in a dart from downtown, pushing Northern to 54-49 with 3:09 left to play. Ranger's coach called a time out to slow down the 'Cats momentum.

NMU carried their momentum all the way to the end, winning the shootout by a score of 62-56.

Makaylee Kuhn netted 28 points and grabbed a double-double in 33 minutes of play.

Elizabeth Lutz shot 50-percent from downtown, scoring 12 points in 33 minutes of play.

Samantha Potter placed second on the Wildcats in rebounds with seven, following behind Kuhn who pulled down 13.

NMU takes the next few days to rest up before loading up the buses for a pair of away matchups to finish out the regular season. Tip-off is set for Thursday, Feb. 24 at 5:30 and Saturday, Feb. 26 at 1 p.m.

SATURDAY GAME RECAP

MARQUETTE, Mich.- The Northern Michigan University women's basketball celebrated senior day with a matchup against the Cardinals from Saginaw Valley State University on Saturday, Feb. 19.

NMU dropped a tough matchup against SVSU on senior day by a score of 56-49. Freshman Kayla Tierney pushed the 'Cats with 14 points in 27 minutes of play.

The opening minutes started out slow as both teams battled back and forth until Ana Rhude worked some magic in the paint to get points on the board in favor of the 'Cats.

Elizabeth Lutz dropped a three-pointer from downtown off a dish from Vivianne Jende. The Wildcats now doubled SVSU's score with less than four minutes to play in the first.

SVSU started to climb back into the matchup in the final minute of play but Northern stood tall defensively,. The 'Cats led 9-8 at the end of the first.

Andrea Perez made her journey to the free-throw line as she was fouled on the way up. Perez made the most of the situation, knocking both in to get the scoring off to a start in the second quarter.

Kayla Tierney found Makaylee Kuhn driving to the basket for an easy layup, as the Wildcats led with just under seven minutes to play in the second quarter.

Madigan Johns came into play on fire, dropping an absolute dart from beyond the arc, pushing the Wildcats lead to 16-12 with 5:08 to play in the second quarter.

The threes were cooking in the second quarter for Northern, as Taya Stevenson dropped in a beauty from downtown.

SVSU climbed back into the lead as the Cardinals headed to the locker room with a 21-19 lead.

The Wildcats saw a variety of players share the wealth, as four players sat tied for a team-high in points.

Mackenzie Holzwart controlled the glass in the first half, leading the team in rebounds with three.

The Cardinals came out hot to start the third quarter, knocking down shot after shot to push their lead to 10.

Vivianne Jende popped one up from the mid-range to help crawl their way back into the game, SVSU led 40-29.

In the dying seconds of the third quarter, Northern found a burst of energy off a Kayla Tierney three-pointer from way downtown.

Taya Stevenson got the ball rolling for the Wildcats, driving deep into the paint for an easy layup. The Cardinals led 42-34 with 8:54 left to play.

SVSU's offense continued to stay strong, holding the 10 point advantage throughout the fourth quarter.

Stevenson continues to show out for the Wildcats, driving deep into the paint once again, dropping in the lay-up.

Elizabeth Lutz reeled in a soft pass from Makaylee Kuhn, carrying the momentum into the paint for an easy lay-up. The Cardinals led 50-42 with 1:13 left to play.

Kayla Tierney capitalized off an offensive rebound, forcing the SVSU head coach to call a quick timeout. Northern looked to continue their momentum with 40 seconds left on the clock.

Kayla Tierney led the 'Cats with eight points in 27 minutes of play.

Makaylee Kuhn was sharing the wealth throughout the match, notching a team-high six assists in 37 minutes of play.