SAULT STE. MARIE - Lake Superior State's six-game home win streak in women's basketball came to an end with Thursday's 64-56 loss to Northern Michigan.

With the win, the third-place Wildcats (11-5 overall, 8-3 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) extended their North Division lead over LSSU to two games. Lake Superior State is 9-6 overall and 6-5 in the GLIAC heading into Saturday's home-court showdown with fifth-ranked Michigan Tech.

NMU, ranked No. 2 in the GLIAC in team defense, held LSSU to eight first-half field goals while building a 31-20 lead. The Lakers trailed by as many as 15 points in the second half, but cut the lead to five, 47-42, with 5:36 to go.

Northern Michigan's Steffani Stoeger hit a big three-pointer with 2:36 remaining to give the Wildcats a 52-44 lead. LSSU then fouled on the offensive boards, which led to two free throws by Wildcat Erin Powers at the 2:11 mark. NMU extended the lead to 12 points, 56-44, with 1:14 to go.

Lakers Emily Joseph and Nicole Marshall canned two three-pointers apiece down the stretch.

Cassy Schemberger led LSSU with 16 points and 12 rebounds for her first career double double. Joseph finished with 15 points, followed by Marshall with 13. LSSU shot 38.6 percent from the field, including 6-of-15 from three-point range. The Lakers made 6-of-7 free throws.

Stoeger led NMU with 16 points and three steals. Christa Erickson added 12 points. The Wildcats shot 36.4 percent from the field, including 6-of-19 from behind the arc. They made 18-of-21 free throws and out-rebounded LSSU, 41-31.

LSSU vs. NMU