IRONWOOD — Playing with the lead worked to Northern Wisconsin’s advantage here Thursday night in a 99-79 girls’ basketball triumph over Northern Michigan in the 10th annual Kiwanis Club of Ironwood Classic Border Bash.

That especially became evident in the second half when Wisconsin took the lead for good at Gogebic Community College’s Lindquist Center.

Michigan took its final lead of 46-45 early in the third quarter when St. Ignace’s Jillian Fraser drained a 20-foot jump shot.

Wisconsin surged to a 54-47 lead on a 21-foot jumper from the right wing by the game’s Most Valuable Player, Kali Heikkinen of Prentice, nearly midway through the third stanza.

Michigan got within 57-53 on a 21-foot set shot by Marquette’s Aubree Blackburn.

Wisconsin then hiked its advantage to 68-55 on a three-point play by Neillsville’s Sydney Subke with 43.7 seconds left in the third.

Carney-Nadeau’s Grace Maule, however, provided a spark for Michigan with a jumper from the left corner at the buzzer, trimming its deficit to 68-58 on what will soon become her home floor as a Gogebic cager.

Michigan crept within 68-65 on a steal and layup by Lake Linden-Hubbell’s Emily Jokela early in the fourth.

Wisconsin responded with 11 unanswered points, gaining a 79-65 cushion on a running jumper from the lane by Sevastopol’s Naomi Rikkola midway through the fourth.

Michigan did manage to shave their deficit to nine points, 83-74, on Fraser’s 12-foot running jumper with 5:01 remaining.

Wisconsin, however, didn’t allow its opponent to get any closer.

The first half was close.

A putback by Subke gave Wisconsin a 20-13 lead with two minutes left in the opening frame.

Michigan surged to a 25-21 lead early in the second on a jumper from top of the key by Fraser and still led 32-30 midway through that quarter.

A jumper from the boulevard by Crandon’s Lauren Littleton gave Wisconsin a 43-37 less than two minutes before halftime.

Michigan then rallied to tie the score at 43 when Negaunee’s Aubrey Johnson converted a steal into a layup 21 seconds prior to the intermission.

Johnson finished with 17 points, Fraser hit 16, St. Ignace’s Addison Cullen added 11 and Jokela had 10.

Heikkinen scored 18 points, followed by Ripon College recruit Rikkola with 17, Subke 15 and Littleton 14.

Wisconsin sank 14 of 17 free throws and committed 18 turnovers. Michigan was 9 of 18 from the line and had 15 miscues.

Subke won the three-point shooting contest and Kiefer was the free throw winner.

Box score:

Score by quarters:

Northern Wisconsin 20 23 25 31 — 99

Northern Michigan 17 26 15 21 — 79

Individual scoring & team statistics:

Northern Wisconsin — Johnson 12, Viestenz 5, Ranly 7, Littleton 14, Keifer 11, Subke 15, Heikkinen 18. FT: 14-17; Fouls: 16; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Heikkinen 3, Keifer 2, Subke 2, Ranly, Littleton.

Northern Michigan — C. Cullen 3, Blackburn 3, Johnson 17, Corcoran 3, Anderson 5, Jokela 10, Maule 6, Fraser 16, Linsenbigler 5, A. Cullen 11. FT: 9-18; Fouls: 14; Fouled out: Maule; 3-point field goals: Fraser 4, Maule 2, Jokela 2, C. Cullen.