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NMU Women Give Second-Ranked Team Big Scare
 ROMEOVILLE, Ill.---Northern Michigan University's women's basketball team nearly pulled off a big upset Thursday night in Illinois. The Wildcats had the lead in the second half against the nation's second-ranked team, Lewis University, but the Flyers pulled out a 68-58 win. The NMU story is posted below: The Northern Michigan University women's basketball battled No. 2 Lewis the whole way but dropped their final non conference game of the season 68-58 at the Neil Carey Arena, Thursday. The loss drops the Wildcats to 4-4 while Lewis remained undefeated with a 10-0 record. A three-pointer from senior guard Alyssa Colla with three-seconds left in the first half gave NMU a 33-32 lead at the half. Colla led NMU with 11-first half points. NMU came out in the second half and went punch for punch with the Flyers keeping the game within two possessions until the final minute of action when Lewis went 5-6 from the free throw line to stretch their lead. A layup from junior forward Nea Makela gave NMU a 56-54 lead with 7:22 left in the game, but Lewis went on a 14-2 run through the final minutes. Colla finished the game with a team-high 17 points while senior guard Lauren Gruberadded 10 for the Wildcats. Gruber led the Wildcats with eight rebounds while Colla had seven. Two Flyers players recorded double-doubles as Jess Reinhart recorded a game-high 27 points with 10 rebounds while Mariyah Brawner-Henley had 17 points with 15 rebounds. Both team shot under 40-percent from the floor as NMU connected on 24-62 from the field (38.1) and Lewis hit 27-68 (39.7). NMU was 6-21 from three point range and went 4-4 from the free throw line. The Flyers out rebounded NMU 40-36 and outscored NMU 36-34 in the paint. NMU returns to Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action at 6 p.m. Jan. 2 at TIffin. |
