Quick Start Fuels NMU Past FSU In GLIAC Women's Play At Berry Events Center

Marquette, Mich. - A quick start led Northern Michigan over Ferris State in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) women's basketball action on Saturday (Jan. 17) as the host Wildcats pulled out a 67-52 win over the Bulldogs at the Berry Events Center in Marquette.

NMU jumped out to a 33-23 halftime lead and pushed the advantage to 19 points early in the second half before the Bulldogs mounted a comeback. FSU cut the margin down to seven points, but could get no closer as the Wildcats won the league contest.

FSU, which dropped its third-straight game, fell to 7-6 overall and 5-5 in league play while NMU improved to 8-6 overall and 6-4 in conference action.

Junior center Christina Branch scored a team-high 20 points and pulled down nine rebounds for the Bulldogs in the setback with senior center Hannah Hoffman adding 12 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals.

However, Northern Michigan received 21 points from guard Alyssa Colla along with 19 points from Lauren Gruber in earning the win.

FSU finished shooting 35.7% for the game and was only four-of-14 (28.6%) from three-point range along with eight-of-10 (80%) at the three-point stripe.

The Wildcats on the opposite side shot 51.4% overall and connected on 10-of-18 (55.6%) three's to go with 19-of-23 (82.6%) free throws.

The Bulldogs did own a 31-24 rebounding edge and came up with 13 offensive boards to only one for Northern Michigan, leading to an 11-2 margin in second chance production.

NMU, though, forced 18 FSU turnovers and posted a 24-18 advantage in points off miscues while coming up with seven steals. They added eight blocked shots on the defensive end. The Wildcats finished with 16 turnovers of their own.

Ferris State totaled 11 assists, including three each from Hoffman and sophomore guard Ally Christman, in addition to 10 steals and five blocks. Hoffman had three blocks while junior guard Dena Droste totaled three steals to lead FSU.

Overall, the Wildcats had 14 assists, including seven from Gruber. Nea Makela led NMU with three blocks while Bre Gaspervich had three steals.

Northern Michigan scored first and never trailed in the contst as they led for nearly 37 minutes of action. FSU did outscore the Wildcats 24-8 in the paint and received 21 points off the bench compared to only six for the hosts.

Ferris State returns home to begin a three-game homestand at Jim Wink Arena. FSU hosts Northwood on Thursday (Jan. 22) with tipoff set for 6 p.m. (ET) in Big Rapids before entertaining Lake Superior State on Saturday (Jan. 24) beginning at 1 p.m. (ET).