Wildcats blitz Golden Eagles in third, win 78-63

CROOKSTON, Minn. – The Northern Michigan girls’s basketball group outscored Minnesota Crookston 29-16 within the third quarter en path to a 78-63 victory on Sunday afternoon, securing the weekend sweep towards the Golden Eagles. 

After a dominant 21-5 third quarter on Saturday, the Wildcats mirrored their success into Sunday, pulling away from Crookston out of halftime after holding a slim 32-31 lead on the break. 

The Green and Gold utilized a balanced assault to get the job finished, as 4 ‘Cats eclipsed double figures with three extra scoring a minimum of seven. Shooting an environment friendly 5-8 from the sector and 3-5 from three, Addison Pytleski paced Northern with 15 factors. Sarah Newcomer adopted with 13 factors whereas additionally connecting on three triples. Madison Schroeder added 12 factors and 6 rebounds whereas Alyssa Hill chipped in 10 factors and 7 boards. CJ Romero ran the offense to perfection, dispensing six assists. 

The Wildcats shot 31-63 from the sector and 7-21 from three. Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles had been 21-54 general whereas capturing a productive 11-22 from past the arc.

Northern dominated the glass 44-23, which led to a outstanding 42-10 edge in factors within the paint. The Wildcats additionally turned 9 Crookston turnovers into 13 factors off turnovers. 

With the win, the Wildcats transfer to 8-1 on the season with convention play awaiting this coming week. 

 

How it Happened

Northern opened the afternoon by establishing its presence inside, with Alyssa Hill scoring the Wildcats’ first three baskets within the paint. The early minutes mirrored the matchup yesterday, that includes fast lead modifications and tight possession-by-possession play. The lead flipped eight instances within the first 5 minutes earlier than Minnesota Crookston edged forward 12-11 halfway via the opening quarter.

Madison Schroeder sparked a short NMU surge with a layup that capped a 5-0 run, giving the Wildcats the sport’s first multi-possession lead at 16-12. But the Golden Eagles responded with 5 straight of their very own to retake the lead and carry a 17-16 benefit into the second quarter within the second straight assembly between the groups. NMU scored 12 of its 16 first-quarter factors within the paint, whereas UMC countered by hitting 3-4 from past the arc.

The tight play continued into the second quarter, with neither facet creating separation. The groups discovered themselves tied for the primary time at 22-22 with 6:08 left within the half. Jacy Weisbrod hit her first three, and Addison Pytleski added her second to shut the primary half with a slim 32-31 edge. 

NMU’s lead got here largely from its work inside and on the glass, dominating the rebounding battle 23-11 and outscoring UMC 18-6 within the paint over the primary 20 minutes.

Northern got here out of halftime firing for the second straight day, with Sarah Newcomer scoring 5 fast factors to present the Wildcats a six-point cushion. Addison Pytleski adopted with back-to-back baskets as NMU ripped off an 8-0 stretch, making its first six photographs of the quarter. The burst became a 17-2 run that pushed the result in 49-33 lower than midway via the quarter.

Crookston answered with eight consecutive factors to trim the margin again to single digits at 49-41, however Northern countered with one other blitz. Newcomer and Pytleski buried threes to leap begin a 10-0 run that stretched the result in 59-41 with just below two minutes remaining within the quarter.

The Wildcats carried a 61-47 benefit into the fourth after outscoring the Golden Eagles 29-16 within the third, their best quarter of the evening.

Crookston opened the fourth with a 3, however Newcomer instantly answered with one in every of her personal. The Wildcats pulled away for good within the closing minutes, stretching the result in 20 at 76-56 with 3:30 remaining, and closed out a robust all-around efficiency to safe the win.

Up Next

The Wildcats will open GLIAC play on the highway subsequent week, beginning with a cease at Parkside on Thursday, December 4.