Women's Basketball Opens Season With 81-72 Win Over St. Joseph's

The Northwood University women's basketball team opened its 2013-14 season with an 81-72 win over Saint Joseph's Saturday afternoon (November 9).

The contest was held at Lewis University and was the opening game of the GLIAC/GLVC Challenge.

Northwood took control right away, scoring the first seven points of the game.  The Pumas got back to within four at one point, but a 9-0 NU run extended Northwood's lead to 40-22 with 3:17 remaining in the first half. The Timberwolves would take a 43-33 lead to the break.  Northwood shot 60.0 percent (18-30) while holding St. Joseph's to 36.4 percent (12-33). 

St. Joseph's fought back early in the second half, eventually getting within one at 62-61 with 7:48 left in the period. That's when juniors Sarah Susan (Byron Center, Mich.) and Gabrielle Rivette (Fenton, Mich.) took over. The two combined to score the next 13 points for the Timberwolves, holding the Pumas to just six, to take a 79-68 lead with 2:20 remaining.

Overall, Northwood shot 46.8 percent (29-62) compared to 41.0 percent for the Pumas. Northwood also finished with 12 steals and seven blocks.

Four Timberwolves finished in double figures, led by Sarah Susan with a game-high 19 points and six rebounds, going 6-12 from the floor and 7-8 from the FT line. Lauren Robak (Waterford, Mich./Our Lady of the Lakes) added 17 points, while Rivette scored 16 points to go with six assists and two steals. Aleigha Wylie (Midland, Mich./Midland) recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds to go with two steals. Kaitlin Susan (Byron Center, Mich.) finished with six points, five blocks and a pair of steals.