———————

MARQUETTE — The shorthanded Northern Michigan University women’s basketball team moved into a tie for second place in the GLIAC by lasting out a 68-64 victory over Upper Peninsula archrival Michigan Tech at Vandament Arena on Thursday evening.

The Wildcats improved to 10-3 overall and 4-1 in the conference, tied with Wisconsin-Parkside and Ferris State and a game behind league leader and national No. 1 Grand Valley State.

Despite missing leading scorer Jacy Weisbrod for the third straight game, NMU built a lead of as many as 19 points in both the second and third quarters before the Huskies (5-8, 2-3 GLIAC) came charging back.

Northern Michigan University’s Addison Pytleski, bottom, goes up for a shot and makes it while being defended by Michigan Tech’s Ella Mason during their college women’s basketball game played at Vandament Arena in Marquette on Thursday. Mason is a 2024 graduate of Negaunee High School. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

Tech got as close as two points, 66-64, with 28 seconds to go on a Janie Tormanen layup, but the Wildcats added two final insurance free throws down the stretch to eke out a four-point victory. CJ Romero and Alyssa Nimz each made 1 of 2 free throws at the end as MTU missed several 3-point tries in that final stretch.

Northern led all the way, scoring the first five points off a free throw and separate layup by Nimz, along with a jumper by Madison Schroeder almost halfway through the first quarter.

NMU quickly extended its lead to 11-2 on a Kayla Tierney triple with 3:37 left in the first quarter, then got to its first double-digit lead in the final minute of the period when Addison Pytleski made a layup that produced a 17-6 advantage to start the second.

The Wildcats steadily built upon that lead until it reached 19 points at 35-16 with 34 seconds left in the first half following an Abi Fraaza jumper.

Settling for a 35-18 edge at halftime, Northern again made it a 19-point lead exactly a minute into the third quarter on a Nimz layup.

Tech, however, answered immediately with an 8-0 run in less than 100 seconds, culminated by a 3 from Isabella Lenz that cut the Huskies’ deficit to 37-26 with 7:21 to go in the third.

But they couldn’t get closer than that for the rest of the period, NMU still holding onto a 55-41 advantage entering the fourth.

And the Wildcats actually outscored MTU over the first four minutes of the fourth, building its lead to 64-48 with 5:44 remaining on a Mackenzie Holzwart jumper.

But Northern got stuck on its “64” score, not producing another point until the final minute as Tech pulled to within 64-59.

Tormanen’s layup got the Huskies to within a single possession, but it’s one they couldn’t take advantage of as they wouldn’t score again.

All 10 NMU players who were dressed scored, with nine getting a rebound.

Fraaza came off the bench to lead Northern scorers with 13 points despite playing just 13 minutes. She was a model of efficiency, making 5 of 7 shots and 3 of 3 free throws to go with four rebounds and two assists.

Nimz added 11 points and no turnovers in 33 minutes court time, while Sarah Newcomer added nine points, all on a trio of treys, while dishing out a game-high four assists.

Tech had the game’s top two scorers, Alyssa Wypych with 16 points and Lenz with 14. Also contributing for the Huskies was 2024 Negaunee High School graduate Ella Mason with five points, including a 3-pointer, as she also made a steal in 13 minutes on the court.

While MTU held a 42-32 rebounding edge, Northern shot better, making 43% (26 of 60) from the field compared to 34% (21 of 62) for Tech.

With the Huskies hosting Roosevelt on Saturday, the Wildcats get an unusual league weekend off, their next game hosting the new-to-the-conference Lakers at 5:30 p.m. Monday back at Vandament.

NMU has two more home games later next week, hosting Wayne State at 5:30 p.m. Thursday and Saginaw Valley State at 1 p.m. next Saturday.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.