This story is courtesy of Northern Michigan Sports Information

HOUGHTON– Northern Michigan University women's basketball held a 20-19 halftime lead but No. 15 Michigan Tech was able to outscore the Wildcats in the second half for the 57-49 victory.

NMU slides to 12-7 on the year with a 10-5 mark in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play, while the Huskies improved to 17-1 with a 13-1 conference record.

Morgan Anderson led the Huskies with 16 points. Brenne Hiese added 12 and Danielle Blake chipped in ten points for Michigan Tech, who have won nine straight games.
 

The first half would be a defensive and physical battle between the two teams.

Michigan Tech led by five points on two different occasions for the largest lead of the half between the two teams.  Both times Northern Michigan was able to go on quick runs to quickly make the game a close contest.  Senior guard Lauren Gruberhit a pair of free throws to close out the half in favor of NMU at 20-19.

NMU held Tech to 9-28 (.321) shooting in the half, while the Wildcats could only manage 8-21 (.381) themselves.  Senior forward Nea Makela led NMU with six points at the break after sinking a pair of three-point baskets in the opening half.

The second half proved to be a half of runs as Michigan Tech scoring the first eight points to retake the lead from Northern Michigan.  The 27-20 MTU lead with 16:51 left drew an NMU timeout and out of the break NMU answered with a 10-2 run to take the lead right back at 30-29 with 13:23 left to play.

Michigan Tech then answered with a 13-3 run spanning nearly eight minutes that gave MTU a nine point lead at 42-33 and only 5:36 left on the clock. 

Northern Michigan was able to cut the deficit down to as little as five after a pair of free throws from senior forward Abbey DeBruin, but the Huskies would go 7-8 from the free-throw line in the final minute and a half of the contest to ice the game for the 57-49 final.

Michigan Tech was able to outrebound Norhtern Michigan 32-26 pulling down 12 offensive rebounds.  Northern Michigan finished the game shooting 17-40 (.425) from the field including 4-10 (.400) from beyond the arc.

Senior guard Alyssa Colla led Northern Michigan with 15 points going 5-7 (.714) from the field in the second half after missing most of the first half due to foul trouble.  Makela and DeBruin each chipped in double-figures with 11 points apiece.

Northern Michigan hits the road this weekend as they travel to Grand Valley State Thursday, Feb. 5 for a 6 p.m. start time and Ferris State Saturday, Feb. 7 for a 1 p.m. tip.