SAULT STE. MARIE - Northern Michigan shot 70.6 percent from the field during the first half and a season-high 60 percent for the game to beat the Lake Superior State women's basketball team 69-49 Thursday at Bud Cooper Gymnasium.

Alyssa Colla, who scored 33 points against LSSU during the Wildcats' January victory over the Lakers, led NMU Thursday with 22 points. Bre Gaspervich followed with 13 as the twosome was a combined 13-of-20 from the field.

Northern Michigan (16-8 overall, 14-6 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) bettered its previous-best shooting percentage of 54 percent, which was set on two occasions this season. The Wildcats led by 17 points at halftime, 34-17.

Natalie Peterson and Kelsey Ance scored 11 points each to lead LSSU (7-17 overall, 3-17 GLIAC). April LaCross totaled a team-high six rebounds. For Peterson, a freshman, it was a season high in scoring and her third double-figure performance of the year.

LSSU shot 33.3 percent from the field, including 1-of-10 from three-point range, and made 16-of-19 free throws. NMU was 6-of-14 from behind the arc and 15-of-19 at the free-throw line. The Wildcats out-rebounded the Lakers, 27-25.

LSSU plays its final home game at 1 p.m. Saturday against ninth-ranked Michigan Tech. The Lakers will pay tribute to seniors Kandace Crittendon and Stephanie Fisher immediately following the game.