This story was produced by NMU Sports Information
MARQUETTE — Bre Gaspervich hit a last-second layup to vault the Northern Michigan women's basketball team past rival and GLIAC North leader Michigan Tech, 71-69, Monday night at the Berry Events Center.
With the win, the Wildcats move to 9-12 (8-7 GLIAC) on the season. Three players hit the double figures in scoring: Gaspervich (21), Darby Youngstrom (19) and Chloe Tompkins(13).
Northern Michigan battled through a fourth quarter that saw the teams tied at six points. A Tompkins layup and free throw gave Northern Michigan a 69-67 advantage with 1:12 to play. Coming out of a timeout, Kylie Moxely put a layup off the glass to tie the game at 69 with seven seconds to play.
After a Northern Michigan timeout, Youngstrom fed Gaspervich down the lane to beat the Michigan Tech defense for a layup with four seconds remaining. The Wildcat defense held strong in the remaining seconds and withstood a game-tying shot attempt by Mackenzie Perttu.
Both teams opened the game by struggling with turnovers. Michigan Tech held an 8-4 lead with 5:33 to play in the first quarter. After driving the lane for two, Gaspervich was fouled and completed the three-point play with a free throw to draw Northern Michigan within three, at 10-7. Later in the quarter, a Tompkins layup gave the Wildcats their first lead of the game at 15-14. Northern Michigan trailed after one quarter, 18-15.
The Huskies opened the second quarter by building their largest lead of the game, 25-15, by the 7:42 mark. Emily Schramek found Taylor Hodell in transition for the layup to end the run. Later in the quarter, Gaspervich connected with Tompkins from beyond the arc to bring the Wildcats within one, 29-28, with 1:51 to play.
Michigan Tech answered with a 5-0 run to grow a six-point lead, at 34-28, with 1:31 on the clock. Northern Michigan answered with back-to-back three point shots from Gaspervich and Youngstrom to end the half, cutting the Husky lead to 36-34.
The Wildcats out rebounded the Huskies, 28-24, and outscored Michigan Tech in the paint, 42-32. Youngstrom's 19 points set a new career high; she also posted a team-high six rebounds.
With the win, Northern Michigan increases its lead in the all-time series with Michigan Tech to 51-41.
