ALLENDALE, Mich. â€Ã‚“ The NMU womenâ€Ã‚™s basketball teamused some good old fashion defense on Thursday night to defeat the Grand ValleyState University Lakers by a score of 71-56. NMU limited the Lakers to 23.3 percent shooting from the floor for thefirst half and 36.7 percent for the game. NMU is now 12-6 overall and 8-3 in the GLIAC.  GVSU falls to 17-3 and 8-3. The â€Ã‚˜Cats also won the battle of the boards as they out-rebounded theLakers 40-34. 

NMU held a 34-19 first half lead on some sharp shooting inthe first half.  The â€Ã‚˜Cats were 14-30(46.7 percent from the floor) in half. The â€Ã‚˜Cats jumped out to a 20-11 lead with about 10 minutes left in thefirst half on a lay up by Alyse Shier. NMU ended the first half by scoring the final six points of thehalf. 

To start the second half the â€Ã‚˜Cats built a 17 point leadwith 11:46 left in the game on a lay up by Elena Keranen.  Emily Samuelson and Shannon Boyer made layups with less than two minutes left in the game to extend the â€Ã‚˜Cats lead to 19points, which was their largest of the game. 

NMU only made six of their 13 free throws attempts on thenight (46.2 percent).  The â€Ã‚˜Cats madehalf of their three-point attempts on the evening as they converted five of the10 attempts.  Samuelson led the way forthe â€Ã‚˜Cats on the night with 22 points, six assists and four rebounds.  The 22 points is a career-high forSamuelson.  Tiffany Grubaugh added 20points in the mix.  Keranen had 16points and eight rebounds.

The â€Ã‚˜Cats travel up the road to take on Ferris State onSaturday (Feb. 1).