HILLSDALE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan University women's basketball team could not find its shooting touch Thursday against the Hillsdale College Chargers. NMU shot 39.3 percent in the first half (11-28) and trailed the Chargers after the first 20 minutes of play 37-29. The second half was a little colder as the Wildcats shot 32.1 percent (9-28). In the end the NMU women's basketball team lost an 83-66 decision.

The loss was the 'Cats second in the past three games as the team is now 17-7 overall and 14-5 in the Great lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). Hillsdale improves to 12-11 and 12-7 respectively.

NMU began the game with an 8-2 run over the first three plus minutes of the game. Angie Leckson scored four of the NMU points during the run. The Chargers tied the game at 10-all about six minutes into the half and then went on to take a 15-10 lead less than two minutes later.   Hillsdale had an 11-point lead about halfway through the half, but after two made free throws by Elicia Derusha, then back-to-back baskets by Christa Erickson and Erin Powers the 'Cats were back in the game with 6:26 to go in the half (23-18).   The Chargers answered with back-to-back baskets of its own for a 28-18 lead (5:45). With about three minutes to go until halftime, Mariah Dunham's lay-up had the 'Cats to within five once again (30-23). With under a minute to go, Steffani Stoeger connected for NMU's final basket of the first half and a 34-39 score. 

The second half began with the 'Cats receiving a three-pointer from Erickson and a lay-up from Leckson for a 39-34 score two minutes in the half. After Kellie Rietveld's sank both of her free throws (14:38) for a 45-38 score the Chargers went on a 9-0 run to take a 54-38 lead with 12:38 left in the game. From that point on the Chargers held a double-digit lead against the 'Cats. NMU had the Hillsdale lead down to 12 points (61-49) with 8:35 left in the game after Holly Cole converted one of her two free throws. 

Erickson led the 'Cats with 14 points as she as 4-8 from beyond the arc. Dunham off the bench chipped in with 11 points. Chelsea Harrison led the Chargers with a game-high 22 points. Derusha and Powers each had seven rebounds to lead the 'Cats.

For the game the 'Cats were 20-56 from the floor (35.7 percent). NMU was 5-20 from the three-point line (25 percent) as Rietveld sank the only other three-pointer. From the free throw line the 'Cats were 21-26 (80.8 percent). NMU had the edge in the rebounding department for the game (40-32).

The 'Cats will move down into Ohio for a game Saturday (Feb. 20) against the Findlay Oilers.