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MARQUETTE, Mich.- The Northern Michigan University women's basketball finishes out their home portion of the regular season in a back and forth shootout against the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Sunday, Feb. 20. 

Makaylee Kuhn captured a season-high 28 points and grabbed a double-double in Northern's 62-56 win. 
 
FIRST QUARTER

Makaylee Kuhn opened up the scoring early for the Wildcats, knocking one down from mid-range off a pass from Ana Rhude. 

After a stellar offensive possession from the NMU side, Elizabeth Lutz drove one hard to the paint, laying one in for the early lead. 

Makaylee Kuhn showed up to play, driving into the paint and taking a hard hit on the way down, grabbing the bucket but not the foul. 

The Rhude and Kuhn connection was on fire, as Rhude created space to dish out a pass for Kuhn, who finished it off for the Wildcats. The Rangers called an early 30-second timeout to draw up a plan to stop NMU's high-powered offense. 

Kayla Tierney lasered one in from downtown off a pass from Kuhn, pushing the 'Cats lead to four. 

After a high-scoring back and forth battle in the first, Northern took the 15-11 lead to the buzzer off a stellar first quarter from Kuhn.

SECOND QUARTER

The Rangers caught up to the Wildcats early in the second quarter, snatching the lead with a three from the corner, play continued by a score of 16-15.

Ana Rhude found herself all alone in the paint, knocking down an easy layup to push the 'Cats to 19-16. 

UW-Parkside tied it right back up with a three from way downtown, but Vivianne Jende answered the call, taking one back for a mid-range jumper to regain the lead. 

Makaylee Kuhn continued to show her dominance throughout the second quarter, knocking down a jumper for her 12th point of the night. 

Kuhn powered her way into the paint off a pass from Samantha Potter, knocking down a lay-up to tie the matchup.

AT THE HALF

The Wildcats were paced by Makaylee Kuhn who scored 16 points in the first half, playing 17 minutes. 

Ana Rhude was second on the team in rebounds with five, following right behind was Kuhn with eight. 

Taya Stevenson and Elizabeth Lutz both grabbed one steal throughout the first half. 

THIRD QUARTER

Parkside got the ball rolling early into the third quarter, knocking down a three to gain the lead. Taya Stevenson answered back for Northern, as she hit the mid-range jumper to keep the game within reach.

Stevenson pulled down the offensive rebound to help Northern keep possession of the ball, finding Makaylee Kuhn, who dropped one in over the Ranger's defense. 

NMU and UWP battled it out through the third quarter but the Rangers came out on top by a score of 38-36. Head Coach Troy Mattson looked to draw something up to push the 'Cats out on top going into the fourth. 

FOURTH QUARTER

Elizabeth Lutz made her way to the free-throw line early in the fourth quarter, dropping in a pair of buckets to tie the game up. 

Lutz worked her way into the paint on the next offensive possession, going up for the lay-up and getting a hard foul on the way down, knocking down both from the charity stripe. 

Makaylee Kuhn dribbled her way into the paint and drew a double team from the Parkside defense, scoring an easy jumper. The Wildcats led 42-40 with 7:17 left to play in the fourth. 

Lutz dropped in an electric three-point shot from way beyond the arc off a pass from Kuhn, 'Cats led 47-42 with 5:13 to play.

The buckets continued to come easy for Kuhn, as she knocked in another jumper from the paint, continuing to pace the 'Cats lead. 

Kuhn's play energized the Wildcats lineup as Lutz dropped in a dart from downtown, pushing Northern to 54-49 with 3:09 left to play. Ranger's coach called a time out to slow down the 'Cats momentum. 

NMU carried their momentum all the way to the end, winning the shootout by a score of 62-56.

STAT LEADERS

Makaylee Kuhn netted 28 points and grabbed a double-double in 33 minutes of play. 

Elizabeth Lutz shot 50-percent from downtown, scoring 12 points in 33 minutes of play. 

Samantha Potter placed second on the Wildcats in rebounds with seven, following behind Kuhn who pulled down 13.

UP NEXT

NMU takes the next few days to rest up before loading up the buses for a pair of away matchups to finish out the regular season. Tip-off is set for Thursday, Feb. 24 at 5:30 and Saturday, Feb. 26 at 1 p.m.