Women's Basketball Defeats Northern Michigan 65-52

The Northwood University women's basketball team earned an important 65-52 victory over Northern Michigan Saturday afternoon (January 26).

The two teams entered play tied in the GLIAC North Division standings.  Northwood is now 10-10 overall, 8-6 in the GLIAC.  Northern Michigan is now 10-8 overall, 7-7 in the GLIAC.

The opening half was close throughout – there were seven ties and six lead changes.  NMU led 25-22 with 4:22 remaining in the half when the Timberwolves went on what proved to be the key run of the game.  NU scored the final 10 points of the half in the span of 2:42 to take a 32-25 lead to the locker room.  Northwood shot 37.5 percent from the floor (12-32) while Northern Michigan finished at 36.0 percent (9-25).  The key stat of the opening half was turnovers – Northwood had just one to NMU's 10.  That allowed the Timberwolves to have an 11-2 edge in points off giveaways in the half.

NU continued the big run to start the second half.  The Timberwolves scored the first nine points after the break, making it a 19-0 run over a span of just over seven minutes to make the score 41-25.  That would prove to be the biggest lead of the game.  NMU got no closer than eight point the rest of the way.

For the game, Northwood finished at 40.0 percent (22-55) while Northern Michigan shot 36.7 percent (18-49).  The Timberwolves committed 12 fewer turnovers than the Wildcats (19-7), which led to Northwood finishing with a 22-8 advantage in points off turnovers.

Four Timberwolves finished in double figures, led by Gabrielle Rivette (Fenton, Mich.) and Sarah Spring (Brighton, Mich.).  They both finished with 12 points.  Rivette added six assists and two steals while committing just one turnover in 36 minutes of action.  Aleigha Wylie (Hemlock, Mich./Midland) and Rachel Church (Midland, Mich./Bullock Creek) each added 11.  Kaitlin Susan (Grand Rapids, Mich./Byron Center) finished with 11 rebounds, six steals, three blocks and three assists.

Northwood returns to action Saturday (February 2) at Saginaw Valley State.  Game time is set for 7 p.m.