Dec. 29, 2003

MARQUETTE, Mich. - Northern Michigan's Tiffany Grubaugh overpowered Lewis' balanced attack as the Wildcats topped the Flyers 88-79.

Lewis (6-5) had five players score at least 10 points, but it was Grubaugh that stole the show and the game for NMU (8-1). Grubaugh scored 27 points, had five steals and shot 9-of-20 from the field to lead the Wildcats to the non-conference victory.

Although the final margin was nine points, the game was close throughout. Lewis trailed by four at halftime 41-37 and owned a pair of one-point leads in the second half before a late spurt turned the game in NMU's favor.

Shante Glenn scored a layup with 16:37 left in the second half that gave Lewis its first lead of the game at 45-44. Michelle Moard quickly answered with a 3-pointer and NMU was back up 47-45. Lewis tied the game on a Darcee Schmidt layup, but NMU pushed its lead back to five points.

Tracy Buchholz (Grand Ledge, Mich./Grand Ledge)'s 3-pointer at the 13:34 mark claimed a 53-52 Flyer lead. However, Grubaugh nailed a 3-pointer on the Wildcats' ensuing possession to give the team the lead for good.

Glenn led the Flyers with 18 points, five assists and four steals, while shooting 5-of-9 from the field and 8-of-10 from the free throw line. Schmidt had 16 points and seven rebounds. Bryanne Callahan added 13 points and Mary Moskal (Cherry Valley, Ill./Rockford Boylan) and Buchholz had 10 points each. Buchholz also posted a team-high eight rebounds and was 3-of-3 from 3-point range.

The game was Lewis' final non-conference game of the season. The team returns to Great Lakes Valley Conference play with a road trip to Southern Indiana January 2. The Flyers are locked in a four-way tie atop the GLVC standings with a 3-1 league mark. USI is tied for fifth with a 2-2 conference slate.

12/29/03