PAINESVILLE, Ohio — The Northern Michigan women's basketball team downed Lake Erie, 45-38, behind Bre Gaspervich's double-double performance Saturday afternoon at the Jerome T. Osborne Family Athletic & Wellness Center.

Northern Michigan found themselves trailing at the end of the first quarter of play, 12-7, after Lake Erie ended the quarter on a six-point run highlighted by a Daija Jones lay up as the time expired.

The Wildcats responded by outscoring the Storm, 14-2, in the second quarter. Northern Michigan opened the quarter by scoring nine-unanswered points, highlighted by an Emily Schramek three-point jumper that put the Wildcats in front, 14-12, with 7:48 on the clock.

The Storm would not get their first points of the second quarter until the 5:06 mark after a Shelby Carpenter layup. The Wildcats closed out the half with a 5-0 run, highlighted by another Schramek three pointer with 55 seconds remaining in the half. Northern Michigan took a 21-14 lead into the break.

Coming out of the half, the Wildcats grew their lead to 15 after a Gaspervich layup at the 2:23 mark. Lake Erie responded by narrowing the Northern Michigan lead to nine after a Jones layup with 11 seconds to play in the quarter. The Wildcats took a 36-27 lead into the final quarter of play.

Lake Erie cut the Northern Michigan lead to six at the 8:54 mark. Tess Weatherly responded from downtown to put Northern Michigan back up by nine with 7:43 to play. Stout defense secured the victory for the Wildcats, their first on the road in GLIAC play.

Gaspervich lead the way, posting a double-double with game-highs in both rebounds (13) and points (12). Hodell also contributed seven points, seven blocks and 11 rebounds to the winning effort.

With the win, Northern Michigan moves to 5-9 (4-4 GLIAC) on the season. The Wildcats will travel to Grand Valley State Jan. 14 with tip off set for 6 p.m.