This story was written by NMU Sports Information
SAULT STE. MARIE– Sophomore Jessica Schultz (Mineral Point, Wis.) scored a career-high 22 points as three players scored double-figures to power the Northern Michigan University Women's Basketball team to a 79-63 victory over Lake Superior State University in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action.
In addition to Schultz' career-high, sophomore Erin Honkala (Howell, Mich.) notched her third double-double of the season, finishing with 16 points and 11 rebounds to aid the effort. Junior Taylor Hodell(Wausau, Wis./DC Everest) added 13 points.
Schultz scored first for NMU, followed by two baskets by Honkala to put NMU up 6-2 early. Junior Tess Weatherly (Howell, Mich.) added a three-pointer from junior Sydney Dillinger (Houghton, Mich.), and after an LSSU score, Hodell scored to put the Wildcats ahead 11-6 less than four minutes into the game.
The hosts answered with a basket, but the Wildcats responded with a 7-0 run. Schultz knocked in a layup to start the rally, and freshman Elizabeth Lutz (Marshall, Wis.) made a layup. Redshirt freshman Terese Ledy (Marquette, Mich.) made two free throws, followed by a Hodell free throw and NMU was ahead 18-8 before LSSU scored again at the 2:59 mark in the quarter.
Schultz then made two free throws, which sophomore Emily Schramek (Naperville, Ill./Benet Academy) followed with two free throws then a three-pointer before the end of the quarter to put the Wildcats ahead 25-10 at the horn. The 25-point quarter is tied for the team's best quarter, and is the second Thursday in a row where the NMU women's team scored 25 points to open the game.
Hodell extended the team's lead to 27-10 to start the second quarter, but the hosts slowly chipped away and narrowed the gap to just 33-25 with 4:54 remaining in the first half. However, NMU answered and finished the half on a 13-9 run throughout the rest of the quarter to take a 46-34 lead into the break.
NMU opened the third quarter on a 13-2 run to take a 59-36 lead with just over four minutes to go in the quarter, and continued their lead throughout the rest of the game, powering to a 79-63 victory.
The Wildcats proved too much for the Lakers on the boards, finishing with a 36-25 advantage on the glass. The rebounding advantage also led the squad to a 13-2 advantage on second chance points. NMU also took advantage at free throw line, shooting 80% from the charity stripe, finishing 24-30.
With the win, NMU is now 8-8 on the season and 4-4 in the conference while LSSU fell to 0-12, 0-8 in the GLIAC. Northern Michigan will look to get another victory Saturday as they visit Ferris State University.
