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MARQUETTE — It was supposed to be a coronation of sorts for Northern Michigan University women’s basketball player Makaylee Kuhn when she broke the Wildcats’ program career scoring record on Thursday in a game against Lake Superior State.

She only needed nine points to set the record when NMU played 1-11 Lake Superior State at the Berry Events Center on Thursday afternoon.

And the senior guard from Hilbert, Wisconsin, did eclipse the old mark of 1,699 points held by Lisa (Jamula) Maki, who played for Northern from 1988-91, in NMU’s 76-49 victory.

Northern Michigan University’s Makaylee Kuhn goes in for a layup during a women’s basketball game played against Northwood at the PEIF Gym in Marquette on Dec. 19. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

But it took until the second half for Kuhn to establish the new mark and for the Wildcats to put away the Lakers.

Northern trailed 14-13 after one quarter and was still behind 22-21 with 5:13 left in the first half after LSSU’s Gracey Metz made a fast-break layup.

But then NMU found another gear, going on an 11-0 run over the next three minutes to go ahead 32-22 and wrestle control from the visitors. Kuhn herself made a jump shot and a pair of free throws in that run to raise her point total to six at that juncture.

Leading 36-24 at halftime, Kuhn then made two of the Wildcats’ first three baskets in the third quarter to break the record with 5:58 remaining in the third.

By that point, Northern had built a 42-26 lead and the rout was finally on.

The game was stopped when she crossed the magic threshold by making a reverse layup as her current coach, Casey Thousand, and former coach, Troy Mattson, joined NMU officials, teammates and Kuhn’s family in a special on-court ceremony.

Once the game restarted, it might’ve freed up Northern’s new all-time leading scorer as she would put in another eight points over the next quarter and a half to raise her career total to 1,709.

She joined the rest of the starting five in playing less than three minutes in the fourth quarter when the Wildcats put the game out of reach.

For the night, Kuhn finished with 18 points, a few tenths of a point above her season average, in her 88th career game.

She made 8 of 16 from the field, all 2-point tries, and 2 of 3 free throws to go with eight rebounds, a blocked shot, an assist, two turnovers and no fouls in 27 minutes on the court.

Two other Northern players also scored in double figures — Jacy Weisbrod put in 13 points, making three 3-pointers and pulling down a game-high 10 rebounds, while Alyssa Nimz scored 12 points, making 6 of 8 from the field and grabbing seven rebounds.

Those two along with Kuhn together pulled in 25 rebounds, almost matching the Lakers’ total of 29 as NMU finished with 53 caroms.

All 11 Northern players who got on the court scored at least a point, while the same number scored for the Lakers. They were led by Amanda Roach with 10 points as Gwinn High School graduate and LSSU freshman Lena Pleaugh saw four minutes court time and scored two points on a pair of free throws.

Northern, which improved to 10-4 overall and 4-1 in the GLIAC, faces national No. 12 Ferris State at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Bulldogs (9-2) are right behind NMU at 3-1 in GLIAC games. National No. 1 Grand Valley State leads the league at 4-0.

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