Northern Michigan University women’s basketball players slap hands with teammate Elizabeth Lutz, left, as Lutz is introduced during pregame introductions at a game earlier this season. Among those taking part are Brooke Kriegl, third from left, and Kayla Tierney, second from right. (Photo courtesy NMU)

MARQUETTE — Fourteen players scored and 15 saw action as head coach Troy Mattson was able to empty his bench in the Northern Michigan University women’s basketball team’s 78-50 victory over Lake Superior State at the Berry Events Center in Marquette on Saturday afternoon.

The Wildcats (6-4, 2-2 GLIAC) jumped out to a 25-17 lead after one quarter, extending it to 41-30 by halftime. LSSU (2-6, 1-3) was badly outrebounded, 41-25, and committed nearly twice as many turnovers, 15-8.

Vivianne Jende led a balanced NMU scoring attack with 12 points, while teammate Ana Rhude added 11 as she made 5 of 6 shots from the field while also pulling down five rebounds.

Elizabeth Lutz scored nine points, while leading scorer Makaylee Kuhn had just eight points, though she only played 18 minutes. Kuhn also pulled down five rebounds while dishing out four assists and making two steals.

Kayla Tierney also scored eight points, making two 3-pointers, while Emily Mueller had six.

LSSU’s Mattison Rayman led all players with her 18 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots.

The Lakers stayed within one point, 7-6, about 2 1/2 minutes into the game before Northern needed less than four minutes to stretch its lead into double digits, 18-6, on a Tierney triple.

Still up eight after one quarter, LSSU cut that margin in half, 27-23, again about 2 1/2 minutes into the second. But also again, the Wildcats used a 9-1 run to regain its double-digit lead for good.

NMU extended its advanage to as many as 22 points, 58-36, during the third quarter before settling for a 58-40 edge going into the fourth.

A Kuhn jumper about two minutes into the final period established an NMU lead that wouldn’t fall below 20 points again.

The Wildcats have a pair of nonconference games before resuming GLIAC play in early January. Northern travels to Illinois-Springfield on Saturday, then hosts Upper Peninsula rival Finlandia at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 2.

NMU’s next conference game is at home against Purdue Northwest at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 6.

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