The NMU women’s basketball team’s shooting woes continued last week as they dropped contests to Great Lakes Intercollegiate (GLIAC) opponents Grand Valley State and Ferris State.
NMU (8-14 overall, 3-11 GLIAC) dropped Thursday’s contest to the Ferris State Bulldogs (15-8 overall, 10-4 GLIAC) by a score of 59-64, despite holding Rachel Folcik, the GLIAC preseason player of the year, to only 11 points and six rebounds. In two games against the Wildcats, Folcik has averaged only 13.5 total points per contest; she is currently averaging 20.2 points per game this season.
The ‘Cats were led in scoring against Ferris by senior Allison Carroll who scored 24 points. Also scoring in double digits for Northern were Angie Leckson, a sophomore, and Kelsey Deacon, a junior, scoring 11 and 10, respectively.
NMU jumped out early against Ferris State and held on for a one point lead at the halftime break, but Ferris State’s depth proved to be Northern’s downfall as the Bulldog’s bench outscored Northern’s reserves 23-8.
The ‘Cats made only four of the 16 threes they attempted in the game, and shot only 28 percent from the field in the second half of the game. The Wildcats are ranked 10th out of the 13 teams in the GLIAC in field goal percentage.
On Saturday the ‘Cats couldn’t reverse their fortunes as they dropped a 63-50 game to Grand Valley. Grand Valley jumped out to a 7-2 lead early in the game and NMU failed to narrow that gap as the Lakers continually extended their lead throughout the game.
Deacon led the ‘Cats in scoring with 17 points. No other players on the Wildcats scored in double figures in the game. Senior LaShawn Lambert grabbed nine rebounds to lead the ‘Cats on the boards.
Turnovers hampered NMU, as they allowed Grand Valley to score 26 points off of 23 Northern turnovers. The Wildcats were also held back by shooting troubles as normally productive freshman Stephanie Stoeger shot 0-10 in the game.
The ‘Cats are back in action this weekend as they return to the Berry Events Center to take on another pair of GLIAC teams. On Thursday, Feb. 14 NMU will host Northwood University (15-7 overall, 10-4 GLIAC) and on Saturday the ‘Cats will face Saginaw Valley State (11-12 overall, 4-10).
NMU is looking to break out of a rough snap that has seen the team lose 6 of 7 games. Even though the ‘Cats are out of GLIAC playoff contention they are attempting to break into the double digits in the win column for the first time since the 2004-2005 season.
The Wildcats will be looking to avenge a close loss to Northwood earlier in the season. When the two teams met on Jan. 4, NMU failed to convert on a last second shot to win the game and fell to the Timberwolves 66-67.
On Saturday, NMU will be battling Saginaw Valley for sixth place in the GLIAC North Division. Saginaw Valley currently holds a half game lead over NMU. When the teams met earlier in the season NMU picked up a 47-39 win. Thursday’s game begins at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday’s at 1 p.m.
