MARSHALL, Minn. - The Northern Michigan University women's basketball team fell 86-74 to the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs on Saturday, their first loss of the season. 

After a back-and-forth first three quarters, SMSU outscored NMU 21-14 in the fourth for the win. The Mustangs hit 11 triples in the game. 

Abi Fraaza led NMU with 22 points on 7-11 shooting. Makaylee Kuhn (17) and Ana Rhude (14) also reached double figures. 


First Quarter
The Mustangs pulled out the clamps defensively to start the game, recording three steals in the game's first two minutes, and jumping out to an early 9-2 lead. A couple of baskets from Mackenzie Holzwart and Makaylee Kuhn stopped a 7-0 run to get it back to 9-6 four minutes into play. 

Kayla Tierney poured in a deep three to even it up 11-11 at the first media timeout with 4:34 to go in the opening frame. 

After a slow start offensively, the Wildcats' offense picked up the pace as the quarter progressed, seeing scores from in the paint and beyond the arc. A Sarah Newcomer three-pointer put NMU up 18-11 to finish off a 16-2 run. 

The Mustangs closed the quarter with a couple of connections from downtown of their own to pull within one possession. NMU was up 20-17 after 10 minutes, with Kuhn pacing the team at 6 points. 


Second Quarter
In a first quarter of runs, the start to the second quarter was a lot of back and forth. Abi Fraaza got a pair of layups, but for every couple of two-point baskets the 'Cats got, SMSU responded with a three. NMU led 30-29 with 4:10 to go in the half. 

The Mustangs regained the lead at 33-30 to cap off their second 7-0 run of the game. Holzwart hit a jumper to end the scoring hiatus, NMU's first basket in over three minutes. 

Abi Fraaza surged in the second quarter, scoring the last six points of the half for the Wildcats over the final two minutes. She got up to 12 points on 5-7 shooting to lead NMU while adding 3 rebounds. The Mustangs held a slim 40-38 edge at the intermission. 


Third Quarter
The Mustangs tied their largest lead of the game at seven with a 5-0 run to open the half, with Sam Wall connecting on her third triple of the afternoon. NMU's deficit read 45-38 with 8:44 to go in the quarter. 

Ana Rhude had it going the for Wildcats in the paint in the third, scoring eight of their first 10. NMU needed each of them, as the Mustangs were productive on their own offensive end to start the half. SMSU led 54-48 with 4:25 to go.

The eighth three-pointer of the day gave SMSU a double-digit advantage, 63-53, with 2:25 to go in the quarter. NMU cut it in half to close the quarter, as Fraaza got three back on an old-fashioned three-point play followed by Newcomer and Kuhn layups to close the quarter. SMSU led 65-60 heading to the final quarter. Fraaza led all scorers with 17 through 30 minutes. 


Fourth Quarter
With a pair of three-pointers as part of an 8-0 SMSU run, the Wildcats faced their largest deficit 73-60 with just over six minutes to go. The two threes to start the quarter were their 9th and 10th of the game. 

With 1:54 to go, Abi Fraaza got her game's total to 22 points, but Northern remained down double-digits at 82-68. 

A strong fourth quarter from the home team was the difference, as NMU dropped their first decision of the season, 86-74.


Postgame Notes

• Abi Fraaza led the Wildcats with 22 points on 7-11 shooting. Fraaza added 6 rebounds. 
• Makaylee Kuhn added 17 points while Ana Rhude contributed 14. 
• From the field, NMU shot 28-54 (51.9%) while SMSU shot 30-60 (50%). 
• The difference was from three, as the Mustangs were 11-26 (42.3%) while the Wildcats connected on just 3-13 (23.1%).
• Jenna Borchers scored 25 to lead all scorers, including five three-pointers. 

Up Next
The Wildcats will be at home this coming week, beginning with a matchup against Finlandia on Tuesday, November 22. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.