Women's Basketball Claims 70-51 Road Win Over Hillsdale

The Northwood University women's basketball team opened GLIAC play with a 70-51 road win over Hillsdale Thursday night (November 29).

The Timberwolves are now 3-2 overall, 1-0 in the GLIAC.  Hillsdale falls to 3-1 overall, 0-1 in the GLIAC.

In the first half of the game, both teams struggled taking care of the ball.  Northwood and Hillsdale each had 16 turnovers in the first half.  The Timberwolves scored seven of the final nine points of the half to earn a 27-21 lead at the break.  Northwood shot 37.0 percent (10-27) in the half, compared to 33.3 percent for the Chargers (7-21).

Northwood took control in the second half, thanks to taking better care of the ball and converting on offense.  The Timberwolves had six turnovers in the second half and shot 50.0 percent from the floor (16-32).  Northwood led 53-44 with less than seven minutes to go when the Timberwolves scored 11 straight points in less than two minutes to put the game away.

For the game, Northwood shot 44.1 percent (26-59).  Hillsdale finished at 38.0 percent (19-50).  NU finished at 5-19 from 3-point range (26.3 percent) and 13-15 from the foul line (86.7 percent).  The Timberwolves also out-rebound the Chargers 38-30.

Gabrielle Rivette (Fenton, Mich.) led the way for the Timberwolves.  She finished the game with team-highs in points (16), rebounds (eight) and assists (five).  Rivette was the dominant player in the second half, finishing with 14 points, six rebounds, three assists and zero turnovers.  Sisters Kaitlin and Sarah Susan (Grand Rapids, Mich./Byron Center) both had strong games off the bench for the Timberwolves.  Sarah had 14 points, three assists and three steals, while Kaitlin added 10 points, seven rebounds and three steals.

Northwood travels to Findlay for a contest Saturday (December 1).  Game time is set for 3 p.m.