UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. — The Northern Michigan women's basketball team stunned GLIAC North leading Saginaw Valley State, 67-61, Thursday evening at James E. O'Neill Jr. Arena.

Both teams traded baskets in the opening minutes until the Wildcats took their first lead of the game, 6-5, following a Bre Gaspervich layup with 5:34 to play. The layup kicked off a 6-0 run that gave Northern Michigan a 10-5 lead heading into the first media timeout. The Wildcats held a 20-10 edge after the opening quarter.

Northern Michigan carried its fast start into the second quarter, opening up its largest lead of the half, 32-14, after a Emily Schramek layup with 4:55 to play in the half. The Cardinals offense came to life, closing out the quarter with a 10-0 run. Northern Michigan led, 32-24, heading into the intermission.

The Saginaw Valley State offense opened the third quarter by cutting the lead down to six, at 40-34, by the 8:14 mark of the quarter.

Later in the quarter, following a Northern Michigan turnover, the Cardinals cut the lead to two, at 37-35, after an Anna Hall layup. The Wildcats responded with a 7-0 run highlighted by a Chloe Tompkins triple that put Northern Michigan up 44-35 with 3:46 to play in the quarter. The Wildcats took a 47-41 advantage into the final quarter.

Saginaw Valley State scored four quick points to open the final quarter and cut the deficit to two, at 47-45, with 8:06 remaining. Northern Michigan then put together a 6-0 run highlighted by Sydney Dillinger finding Gaspervich for the jumper to grow the lead back up to eight, 53-45.

Coming out of a timeout, the Cardinals cut the lead to six, at 53-47, after an Emily Wendling layup. Northern Michigan responded with back-to-back three pointers from Tess Weatherly and Gaspervich to put the lead up to 12, at 59-47, with 3:48 to play. The Wildcats closed out the remaining minutes at the free throw line and built their lead up to 13 points, at 64-51, with 57 seconds to play following a pair of Gaspervich free throws.

Gaspervich led the Wildcats with a game-high 24 points and added six rebounds and six assists. Darby Youngstrom added 12 points while Tompkins rounded out the top three performers with eight points.

With the win, Northern Michigan moved to 11-13 (10-8 GLIAC) on the season and tied Northwood for seventh place in the GLIAC. The Wildcats return to the floor Saturday, takingon Hillsdale at 1 p.m.