ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. â€Ã‚“ The final stop of the â€Ã‚˜Catstour of Florida was Thursday night at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg,Fla.  Behind the double-digit scoring offive â€Ã‚˜Cats, NMU defeated Eckerd by a score of 77-69.  NMU ended 2-1 on their tour and are now 3-4 on the season.  Eckerd falls to 6-4 on the season. 

The â€Ã‚˜Cats led the entire game as they started with a 24-10run about half way into the first half and never looked back.  At the end of the first half the â€Ã‚˜Cats wereshooting over 51 percent from the floor as they went 17-33 for the first 20minutes and had the lead at 37-25.  Forthe game the â€Ã‚˜Cats were over 52 percent (33-63) from the floor.  Jessica Nohl led the squad with 11 points atthe half.  She was the high-scorer forthe â€Ã‚˜Cats for the game with 19 points.

Tiffany Grubaugh continued with her scoring of late with 17points on the evening.  Michelle Moardhad 12 points and six rebounds to pace the â€Ã‚˜Cats.  Emily Samuelson chipped in with 11 points and six assists.  Elena Keranen had 10 points and a game-highseven rebounds.

 For the game theâ€Ã‚˜Cats had five more rebounds than Eckerd at 30 to 25 rebounds.  NMU was almost perfect from the free throwline as they converted nine of their 10 attempts.  From the three-point line the â€Ã‚˜Cats were only two of 10 for thegame as they did not make a three-point basket in the second half on threeattempts.

NMU will return home to face Gannon on Dec. 31 to begin athree-game GLIAC home stand.