Casey Thousand Head Coach | Northern Michigan University Athletics Website
Casey Thousand Head Coach | Northern Michigan University Athletics Website
The Northern Michigan women's basketball team secured a victory against Davenport, winning 47-40 in a defensive contest. The Wildcats forced 22 turnovers and held the Panthers to their lowest score of the season. A strong second quarter saw Northern pull ahead, maintaining their lead after initially taking it just before halftime.
Without leading scorer Jacy Weisbrod, who averages over 15 points per game, Northern employed a balanced offensive strategy alongside strong defense. Mackenzie Holzwart achieved a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, marking her second career double-double. Sarah Newcomer also scored 12 points while Alyssa Nimz matched her career-high with 11 rebounds. For Davenport, Lillee Gustafson recorded a double-double with 12 points and 15 rebounds.
Northern took significantly more shots than Davenport, finishing at 19-66 (28.8%) compared to DU's 15-44 (34.1%). Both teams struggled from three-point range, combining for just four out of thirty-one attempts. Each team grabbed forty rebounds; however, Northern had an advantage on offensive boards which led to more second-chance points and they outscored Davenport in points off turnovers as well.
After a slow start post-holiday break in the first quarter where NMU shot only two for fourteen and trailed by four points, they leveled the score late in the second quarter through Newcomer's jumper. Holzwart followed up with an "and-one" play to give them their first lead of the game. In the final minute before halftime, Nimz tied it again on a layup before Newcomer hit technical free throws and a deep three-pointer to secure a five-point lead at intermission.
The third quarter remained defensively focused with both teams scoring nine each; Newcomer and Holzwart accounted for all of NMU's points as they maintained their lead going into the fourth quarter.
Despite an initial run from Davenport closing the gap early in the final period, key plays by Alyssa Hill along with free throws from Holzwart and CJ Romero ensured NMU's victory by holding Davenport to only three points in those crucial last minutes.
With this win, NMU improved its record to nine wins against two losses overall and remains undefeated in conference play at three wins while Davenport now stands at three wins against eight losses overall with one win within conference matchups.
Next up for NMU is an away game against top-ranked Grand Valley State scheduled for Saturday afternoon on January fourth.
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