SAULT STE. MARIE – Outscoring host Lake Superior State 32-24 in the second half, the Northern Michigan University women’s basketball team beat the Lakers 51-44 Thursday evening in a GLIAC contest.

Taylor Hodell scored 16 points and Darby Youngstrom 14 to lead head coach Troy Mattson’s Wildcats (7-12 overall, 7-6 GLIAC) to their second straight win.

LSSU (4-15, 3-10) got 17 points by Mackenzie Edwards and 11 by Tamara Novic.

The Wildcats got off to a slow start, with the Lakers running out to a 5-0 advantage in the opening minutes. NMU trailed after one quarter of play, 14-8.

Northern cut into the Lakers’ lead after Bre Gaspervich found Hodell for a short-range jump shot to draw the Wildcats to within four, 18-14, with 7:32 left in the half.

Later in the second quarter, NMU’s Martenet distributed the ball to an open Sydney Dillinger of Houghton on the perimeter for a 3-point basket to cut the deficit to one, 18-17, with 5:42 to play in the half.

Northern trailed at intermission 20-19.

In the third quarter, Hodell found Gaspervich on the perimeter for a triple to give the Wildcats their first lead of the game, 23-22.

Though LSSU closed the quarter on a 5-0 run, NMU led after three quarters of play, 33-32.

In the fourth quarter, Northern withstood an LSSU push and grew its lead up to eight, at 46-38, after Chloe Tompkins found Youngstrom down low for the layup with 1:57 to play.

Later in the quarter, Hodell connected on a pair of free throws to give the Wildcats their largest lead, 49-39, with one minute left.

The Wildcats return to action at 1 p.m. Saturday at Northwood.

Information compiled by Senior Sports Writer Craig Remsburg. He can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 251, or via email at cremsburg@miningjournal.net.