ASHLAND, Ohio - In the final game before the calendar turns to 2025, the No. 22 Northern Michigan women's basketball team fell at No. 21 Ashland 84-62 in a top-25 matchup. 

The Wildcats never led in the contest and trailed by as many as 29 late in the second half. The Eagles had a strong shooting performance, going 35-64 (54.7%) while the Wildcats were 26-61 (42.6%).  

NMU was paced by a season-high 14 points off the bench from Mackenzie Holzwart while Alyssa Nimz added another 12. The Eagles outscored NMU 52-30 in the paint, with AU's Hayley Smith playing a key role with 20 points, 12 rebounds, five steals, and four assists. Three other Eagles also reached double figures. 

Nimz got the first scratch for the Green and Gold just over three minutes in, but a 7-0 run from the home team led to a 18-11 Ashland advantage after the first. She added another pair of shots in the second quarter to have eight of NMU's first 16 points. Triples from Newcomer and Romero kept Northern within striking distance at halftime, trailing 39-26. 

Another two threes early in the second half coming from Jacy Weisbrod and Romero maintained a 13-point deficit, but the Eagles broke out on a 7-0 run to lead by 20, 52-32, at 5:55. Ashland would score eight of the final 10 in the third to lead 67-44 with 10 minutes left. The Eagles outscored NMU 28-18 in the third, shooting 12-17 (70.6%).

The Wildcats would have its best quarter in the fourth, outscoring Ashland 18-17. Holzwart added five of her team-high 14 points in the frame and freshman Ava Bates connected on a three for her first collegiate points. 

The Wildcats are now 8-2 while Ashland improved to 11-3. 


Up Next
The Wildcats will head downstate early in 2025, playing at Davenport on January 2 and at Grand Valley State on January 4 for a pair of key conference games.