MARQUETETE, Mich. - With a home GLIAC first roundtournament game on the line Grand Valley and Northern Michigan squared off onSaturday afternoon at the Berry Events Center. The Lakers won the game, 74-67, and will host the first round game nextSaturday (March 1) at 1:00 p.m.  NMUended the regular season with a 16-9 overall record and a 12-6 mark in theGLIAC.  GVSU finished 22-5 and 13-5.

The â€Ã‚˜Cats held a two point halftime lead at 38-36.  To start the second half the Lakers scoredthe first six points to take the lead 42-38. NMU narrowed the gap to two points twice, but could not get over thehump to take the lead.  The Lakers hadthe lead at 13 points at 59-45 with 11:22 left in the game.  With less than two minutes left in the gamethe Lakers made seven of eight free throws down the stretch. 

NMU had the advantage in rebounds with 45 to GVSUâ€Ã‚™s 30.  The â€Ã‚˜Cats had 14 offensive rebounds, went tothe free throw line 28 times and made 24 of their attempts (85.7 percent).  GVSU went to the line 21 times and made 14of their free throws (85.7 percent).

The â€Ã‚˜Cats went 21-54 from the floor (38.9 percent) for thegame.  From behind the arch the â€Ã‚˜Catsmade just one of their 11 attempts (9.1 percent).  GVSU shot 43.3 percent for the game (26-60) and were 8-17 fromthe three-point line (47.1 percent). Ã‚ ÃƒÃ‚‚ Turnovers were costly for the â€Ã‚˜Cats as they committed 22 turnovers.

Jessica Nohl led the way for the â€Ã‚˜Cats with 16 points andeight points.  Tiffany Grubaugh andElena Keranen both had 13 markers. Alyse Shier and Keranen who were both playing their final regular seasongame at the Berry Events Center had 12 and 11 rebounds respectively.  Julie Zeeff led the Lakers with 25 points.