BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – Northern Michigan University woman's basketball (13-8, 11-6 GLIAC) came back from a 16 point deficit in the second half to defeat Ferris State 79-74 in overtime.  NMU scored four points in the final eight seconds of regulation to force overtime where the Wildcats outscored the Bulldogs 17-12 in the extra period.  Senior guard Lauren Gruber scored a game-high 27 points for NMU, while senior forward Abbey DeBruin added 18 and senior guard Alyssa Colla chipped in another 11.

After an 11-9 FSU lead to start the game, the Bulldogs went on a quick 9-0 run to extend their lead out to 20-9 with 5:40 left in the half.  Senior center Courney Lemon closed out the half with a three-point basket to put the score at 23-14 as the team's headed to the locker room.

The first half was dominated by the defenses as NMU was only able to shoot 6-20 (.300) from the field including 2-13 (.154) from beyond the arc in the opening frame, while Ferris went 10-29 (.345) shooting and 2-8 (.250) from three-point land.

Sophomore guard Bre Gaspervich would connect on a three-point shot to bring the score to 38-29 with 11:04 left to play before Ferris used a 7-0 run to extend their lead to 45-29 and 8:51 left, the largest lead of the game.  A 16-7 NMU run brought the game back to a 52-45 game with 4:38 remaining to play. 

Northern Michigan then started shooting lights out from the field as they went on an 11-6 run capped off by a three-point basket from senior forward Nea Makela to put the score at 58-56 and 1:16 left to play.

NMU would be forced to foul sending the Bulldogs to the free-throw line where they went 4-4 to put the score at 62-58 and 22 seconds left in the contest.

Colla would grab an offensive rebound on the next NMU possession and connect on a jumper to put the score at 62-60 and eight seconds left to play before Gaspervich came up with a big steal with five seconds left and Gruber would made a layup with under a second remaining to send the game to overtime with a 62-62 score.

The first four minutes of action in the extra period led to a dead lock at 71-71.  Gruber would then go 4-4 at the charity stripe to give NMU a 75-72 lead and 50 seconds left to play.  Ferris answered with a layup to make the game a one-point contest in the next possession at 75-74 and 41 seconds left to play.  Northern Michigan then used the entire shot clock leading to a missed three-pointer, but Gaspervich managed to pull down the offensive rebound with 12 seconds remaining.  Ferris was then forced to foul sending Colla to the line who went 2-2 followed by a Gaspervich steal and layup to ice the game at the 79-74 final.

Northern Michigan finished the game shooting 25-58 (.431) from the field, while shooting 23-26 (.885) from the free throw line in the win.

The Wildcats outscored FSU 25-19 in points off turnovers and 36-28 for points in the paint.

Along with her game-high 27 points, Gruber managed to pull down seven rebounds with four steals and three assists.  Colla also added seven rebounds and seven assists for the game, while Gaspervich would finish the game with 12 points off the bench with seven rebounds, six steals and three assists.

Northern Michigan returns home next weekend when they host Saginaw Valley Thursday, Feb. 12 at 5:30 p.m. and Hillsdale Saturday, Feb. 14 at 11 a.m.