NMU Women's Basketball Loses Two In Minnesota

The Northern Michigan University women's basketball team lost to two strong teams in Minnesota over the weekend, losing to Minnesota-Duluth, 63-42, on Sunday, after falling to St. Cloud State, 66-56, on Saturday.

These stories, photo courtesy of NMU Sports Information

SUNDAY'S GAME RECAP

DULUTH, Minn. - The Northern Michigan women's basketball team dropped a Sunday decision at No. 25 Minnesota Duluth by a 63-42 score.

NMU struggled shooting for the second consecutive day, going 13-60 (21.7%) from the field and 5-18 (27.8%) from three. Sarah Newcomer paced the Wildcats with 13 points including a 3-5 clip from three. Duluth's Madalyn Granica went 11-14 for 27 points, 17 coming in the second half.

Ana Rhude led the way on the glass with a season-high 13 boards. She was one of four 'Cats to pull down multiple offensive boards, as NMU held a 12-3 edge overall. UMD took full advantage to NMU's turnovers, scoring 20 points off turnovers to only three from the Wildcats.

It was tough sledding early on for NMU, shooting just 2-16 (12.5%) in the opening 10 minutes. The Bulldogs went on a 12-0 run after an Ana Rhude and-one opened the scoring. Mackenzie Holzwart hit the only other shot from the field in the first quarter as NMU trailed 16-6.

The Wildcats missed their first nine shots of the second quarter before a Sarah Newcomer triple cut the deficit to 25-11 with 3:29 left. Makaylee Kuhn would score four points down the stretch, but UMD hit a jumper before the halftime horn to lead 30-16. NMU connected on just two shots again in the second (2-14, 14.3%).

The Green and Gold found more of a rhythm in the third. Kayla Tierney hit a three just over a minute in and a Braelyn Torres jumper at the halfway point of the quarter closed the deficit to single digits at 34-25. Jacy Weisbrod connected on her first triple a minute later to continue to chip away at the Duluth advantage. UMD regained a double-digit lead, 43-32, heading to the fourth.

NMU was never able to close the gap any further in the fourth, with UMD having an answer each time NMU scored. Down 12 at 49-27 with over six minutes left, the Bulldogs went on a 14-2 run to put a stamp on a 63-42 win over the Wildcats.

The loss drops the Wildcats to 4-3 while UMD improved to 4-1.

SATURDAY'S GAME RECAP

ST. CLOUD, Minn. - The Northern Michigan women's basketball team struggled shooting on Saturday, as they fell at St. Cloud State 66-56.

There was a large disparity in shooting efficiency on the afternoon, as NMU struggled to a 19-68 (27.9%) clip while SCSU was 24-45 (53.3%) and 7-17 (41.2%) from deep. Northern was just 6-27 (22.2%) from three.

NMU dominated the offensive glass 16-2, leading to 23 more shot attempts than the Huskies. St. Cloud controlled the defensive glass 35-24, and also were disruptive in the paint, recording eight blocks on the afternoon, led by Ashley Sawicki with five.

Makaylee Kuhn led the 'Cats with a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double, her third of the season. Kuhn had 14 of her 16 in the second half. She also contributed four steals on the defensive end. Ana Rhude added 12 points, 10 of those coming in the first half. SCSU's Jasmine Litt was 4-5 from three for a game-high 20 points.