BIG RAPIDS, Mich. — The Northern Michigan women's basketball team downed Ferris State, 79-64, Saturday afternoon behind Taylor Hodell's double-double performance.

The Wildcats trailed the Bulldogs, 11-6, with 5:22 to play in the opening quarter. Northern Michigan battled back, taking the lead after Alyson Matkovich found an open Emily Schramek for three to take a 16-15 edge with 1:47 remaining. Northern Michigan trailed after one quarter of play, 26-18.

Northern Michigan began a 9-0 run with a Bre Gaspervich three pointer at the 5:23 mark and stole the lead back, 33-31, following a couple of Hodell free throws with 2:51 to play in the half. Northern Michigan outscored Ferris State, 18-6, in the second quarter and took a 36-32 lead into the break.

Following a 6-0 run highlighted by a Kendall Martenet layup, the Wildcats grew their lead to eight with 5:42 to play. The Bulldogs would not roll over and chipped the lead down to five, 49-44. Schramek answered with a layup to push the lead to 10, at 54-44, with 1:04 on the clock. The Wildcats held a 57-47 advantage after three quarters of play.

Northern Michigan opened the final quarter with a 6-0 run after Darby Youngstrom found Martenet down low for the layup to grow their lead to 14 with 8:46 to play. Ferris State answered with an 8-0 run of its own to narrow the lead to eight, 63-55.

Tess Weatherly ended the run with her three to grow the lead to 11 with 6:16 to play. Later in the quarter, the Bulldogs cut the Wildcats lead to six, at 66-60, with 4:46 remaining. Ferris State would not get any closer as Northern Michigan grew the lead to 17 with 34 seconds to play in the contest.

Hodell completed her third career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds while Gaspervich posted 16 points. Schramek went 3 for 5 from downtown and added 13 points.

With the win, Northern Michigan moves to 6-10 (5-5 GLIAC) on the season. The Wildcats return to the Berry Events Center Jan. 21 to take on Saginaw Valley State at 6 p.m. Fans can get their free tickets at Stucko's leading up to the game as part of Northern Michigan's new game day host program.