And the rest of the game ended up as a cakewalk for the Wildcats as they raced to a 73-47 GLIAC victory at Davenport.

NMU found itself in a 6-1 hole 2:10 into the game after the Panthers’ Mary Liedel, Lillee Gustafson and Ellie Toney each made baskets. Northern could only counter with a single free throw by Makaylee Kuhn just 12 seconds in.

Then the avalanche — or was it a desert-like dry spell? — settled in. DU wouldn’t score for the rest of the first quarter while NMU made up its deficit and a whole lot more to race to a 21-6 advantage by the end of the period.

The Wildcats (9-3, 3-0 GLIAC) tacked on another 3-pointer by Jacy Weisbrod in the first 15 seconds of quarter No. 2 to make it a 23-0 run and a 24-6 lead.

Northern Michigan University’s Kayla Tierney, center, drives to the basket to score two points during a GLIAC women’s basketball game played against Saginaw Valley State at the PEIF Gym in Marquette on Dec. 9. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

The Panthers made a modest recovery in the second quarter, pulling as close as 13 points at 24-11 with 8:01 left in the first half following a Gustafson jumper.

But the visitors from the north outscored DU 14-6 the rest of the quarter to take a commanding 38-17 advantage at halftime. Davenport never got the deficit under 20 points throughout the second half, and NMU’s biggest lead was 29, 73-44, with 1:15 left following a free throw by Braelyn Torres.

Kuhn led all players with 23 points and eight rebounds while sharing assist honors with teammate Mackenzie Holzwart as each had five helpers.

While Kuhn made a pair of 3s, Sarah Newcomer finished with four, including three in the opening quarter, that accounted for all of her 12 points. Northern’s Ana Rhude added 11 points and seven rebounds, while Holzwart had seven rebounds, four points and just one turnover to go with her five assists.

NMU held a nearly 2-to-1 advantage in rebounding over their hosts, 47-25, and better-than-that ratio in assists, 19-9.

But the Wildcats will have their hands full this afternoon when they make the short trip to Allendale to face the No. 1 team in NCAA Division II, Grand Valley State. The Lakers, who are 11-1 after blitzing Michigan Tech 74-30 on Thursday, recently rose to that rank from No. 2, where they had started the season.

Their loss? To Big 10 power Ohio State, 73-49, on Dec. 15.

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