ALLENDALE, Mich. â€Â“ The Northern Michigan University womenâ€Â™s basketball team ended the 2004-05 season on Friday night at Grand Valley State University in the GLIAC Tournament Semifinals against the home schoolby a 61-51 score.  NMU ends the season with an overall record of 16-12.  Grand Valley, 24-5, will face Gannon in tomorrowâ€Â™s GLIAC Championship. 

After Holly Cole sank a three-pointer at 8:24 of the firsthalf the â€Â˜Cats were up 14-9.  The Lakers scored two lay-ups in a row to cut thelead, but Cole sank another three-pointer to give the â€Â˜Cats a four-point leadat 17-13 with 6:36 left before the half.  Cole made the lead six points with ajumper at 5:50 (19-13).  With 3:44 left Tera Opperman sank both of her freethrows to give the â€Â˜Cats the 21-20 lead.  The Lakers ended the half with a 5-0run to take the 25-21 lead into the locker room.

NMU held GVSU to 28.9 percent shooting from the floor forthe first half (11-38) which included 2-18 (11.1 percent) from the three-pointline.  NMU was 7-20 in the first 20 minutes of the game from the floor for 35percent, the â€Â˜Cats were 3-7 from the arc (42.9 percent). 

The second 20 minutes of the game was all Lakers.  They heldthe lead the entire half and were up by 10 points with 14:06 left in the game. Autumn Kuhtic made a jumper with 10:59 left in the game to get the â€Â˜Cats towithin four at 41-37.  A 14-3 run by the Lakers over the next six minutespretty much put the game away.  Maria Kasza cut the lead with a made three at1:53 to seven points (55-48), but that would be as close the â€Â˜Cats would get onthe night in the final minutes of the game.

Allison Carroll and Kasza both had 11 points to share theteam-high honors.  Tiffany Grubaugh playing in her final game for NMU had 10points, four rebounds and three assists.  Carroll led the â€Â˜Cats on the boardswith seven rebounds. 

NMU was 19-49 from the floor for the game (38.8 percent)which included 7-15 from three-point land (46.7 percent).  The â€Â˜Cats made 10trips to the free throw line and made six of their throws (60 percent).  NMUwon the battle on the glass with a 40-38 rebounding advantage.  GVSU did have15 offensive rebounds on the night to 10 for the â€Â˜Cats.  Turnovers cost theâ€Â˜Cats as they committed 23 for the game.

 Ã‚ ÃƒÃ‚‚