Saturday night marked a very important game for the Yellowjacket women's basketball team. Not only was the matchup against Northwestern the UMAC Game of the Week, but this matchup would determine who would be atop the UMAC standings.
After a close first half, the Yellowjackets used a strong third quarter to separate from the Eagles and take sole possession of first place in the UMAC.
This game started out as even as they come. The Yellowjackets jumped out to a 4-1 lead thanks to a Hadley Skalmoski layup. Northwestern answered right back, going on a 9-0 run to take a 10-4 lead with 6:38 remaining in the first quarter.
This time it was the Yellowjackets turn to go on a run, reeling off eight straight points to take a 12-10 lead with 2:39 remaining on a Bailee Bartunek layup. Northwestern then took the lead back 13-12 with 0:52 remaining in the first. Bartunek answered the call, putting the Yellowjackets up 14-13 with a jumper on the next possession. The Yellowjackets turned away Northwestern's shot at the buzzer to go into the first break holding a 14-13 lead.
Northwestern took the lead back at 8:45 in the second with an and-1 layup and free throw. The Yellowjackets went on to score the next six points, taking a 20-16 lead with 6:31 remaining in the quarter on a Skalmoski layup. The teams would exchange the lead four more times in the quarter, with the Yellowjackets taking a 27-26 lead into the half thanks to a Justine Larson jumper at the buzzer.
The third quarter was all Yellowjackets in this matchup. A pair of Hailey Kontny jumpers in the first two and a half minutes of the quarter put the Yellowjackets up 31-26 and they didn't look back from there. Hannah Norlin put the Yellowjackets up 37-29 with 1:05 remaining as the Yellowjackets went into the final break holding a 39-31 lead. The Yellowjackets outscored the Eagles 12-5 in the third quarter.
The Yellowjackets held Northwestern at arm's length for the entirety of the fourth quarter. The closest the Eagles would close the gap during the quarter was six points with 0:35 remaining. Kontny and Grace Kennedy iced the game with a pair of free throws each as the Yellowjackets pushed their winning streak to 10 games.
The victory also made Yellowjacket Head Coach Dr. Don Mulhern the winningest head coach in UW-Superior women's basketball history with 113 wins. He moves ahead of Dr. Roger Prescott, who he had tied the previous night with the victory over North Central.
Bartunek paced the Yellowjackets, finishing with a new career high in points with 14. Bartunek also had six rebounds.
Kontny had 14 points for the Yellowjackets, while Norlin finished with 10. Skalmoski filled up the box score in this matchup finishing with nine points, 16 rebounds, five assists, and two steals.
Northwestern was led by Regan Cooper, who finished with 12 points and eight rebounds.
The Yellowjackets shot 37.7% from the field, going 1-11 beyond the 3-point arc, while hitting 7-13 from the free throw line.
Northwestern shot 37% from the field, going 4-12 from beyond the 3-point arc, while hitting 6-9 from the free throw line.
The Yellowjackets finished with 18 turnovers. Northwestern finished with 17.
Next up for the Yellowjackets (13-2, 8-0 UMAC) is a home matchup Friday, January 22 against UMAC foe Martin Luther College. Game time from Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium is set for 7:30 p.m.