Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. — The Northern Michigan women's basketball team picked up its second-straight win, downing Lake Superior State, 51-44, Thursday night at Cooper Gymnasium.

The Wildcats got off to a slow start, letting the Lakers run out to a 5-0 advantage in the opening minutes. Kendall Martenet knocked down a jump shot to put Northern Michigan on the scoreboard with 5:13 to play. The Wildcats trailed after one quarter of play, 14-8.

Northern Michigan cut into the Laker lead after Bre Gaspervich found Taylor Hodell for a short range jump shot to draw the Wildcats within four, 18-14, with 7:32 on the clock. Later in the quarter, Martenet distributed the ball to an open Sydney Dillinger on the perimeter for three to cut the deficit to one, 18-17, with 5:42 to play in the half.  Northern Michigan headed into the break trailing, 20-19.

Coming out of the break, Hodell got to the free throw line and tied the game at 20, with 9:21 to play. Mackenzie Edwards answered for Lake Superior State by knocking down a pair of free throws. On the following possession, Hodell found Gaspervich on the perimeter for three to give the Wildcats their first lead of the game, at 23-22.

Following a Laker timeout, Darby Youngstrom collected her own missed three and made a jump shot to grow the lead to three, 25-22, with 7:40 to play in the quarter. Lake Superior State closed the quarter on a 5-0 run. Northern Michigan led after three quarters of play, 33-32.

In the fourth quarter, Northern Michigan withstood a Lake Superior State push and grew its lead up to eight, at 46-38, after Tompkins found Youngstrom down low for the layup with 1:57 to play. Later in the quarter, Hodell  connected on a pair of free throws to give the Wildcats their largest lead of the game, 49-39 with one minute to play.  

Hodell posted a team- and career-high 16 points while Youngstrom added 14 points and five rebounds.

With the win, Northern Michigan moves to 8-11 (7-6 GLIAC) on the season. The Wildcats return to action when they take on Northwood Saturday at 1 p.m.