Northern Michigan University’s Sydney Whitehouse, center, drives to the net while defended by Michigan Tech's Ella Mason, left, and Kloe Zentkowski during their GLIAC Tournament quarterfinal game played at Vandament Arena in Marquette on March 4. Mason is a Negaunee High School graduate. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

ALLENDALE — The women’s basketball team at Northern Michigan University couldn’t extend its string to three straight years with a win in the NCAA Division II national tournament after losing to Wayne State in its opener on Friday.

The Wildcats’ foe from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference posted a 77-61 victory to advance to the Midwest Region semifinals, though Wayne State bowed out the next day, 90-70, at regional No. 1 seed Grand Valley State.

On Saturday, NMU, which finished at 25-8, trailed throughout the first half before taking the lead for the first time with 2:49 remaining in the second quarter, 28-26, on a Sydney Whitehouse layup.

Leading 30-29 at halftime, the Wildcats kept that lead for most of the third quarter, going up by as many as five points, 38-33. Wayne State (24-7) then used a 9-0 run to end the third and take a 53-48 lead headed into the fourth.

While Northern’s Sarah Newcomer got her team back within a possession, 53-51, with a 3-pointer 39 seconds into the final period, Wayne State soon started pulling away, building a double-digit lead at 64-53 which expanded to as many as 20 points late.

Coming off the bench and playing 24 minutes, Whitehouse led NMU scorers with 15 points, hitting a 3-pointer, while also grabbing a game-high nine rebounds and not committing a turnover. Newcomer added 11 points, hitting a trio of triples, while Faith Walder added 10 points. Top scorer Jacy Weisbrod managed just five points, making 2 of 10 from the field, including 0 of 5 on 3s, while grabbing five rebounds.

This is an abridged version of a story that ran in The Journal’s online edition on Tuesday. Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release reviewing the games. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.