Yellowjackets 77, Northwestern 52

Through the early portion of the 2013-2014 season, the UW-Superior women's basketball team had been looking for a breakout performance.

The Yellowjackets finally got that opportunity Tuesday night.  And UW-Superior took full advantage of their chance, getting solid contributions from a number of players on the way to posting an impressive 77-52 victory over Northwestern at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium.

Not only did the victory halt a two-game losing streak, it gave the Yellowjackets (3-4) some valuable momentum heading into the holiday break.

The Yellowjackets started fast in the opening minutes, getting a layup from Sally Linzmeier (Valders, Wis./Valders) off the opening tip, a three-pointer from Brynn Liljander (Isanti, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti) and an inside score from Vanessa Lebens (Roseville, Minn./Roseville Area) in the first 2:28 to take a 7-0 lead.

A three-pointer by Britnee Blake (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) and a jumper by Linzmeier allowed UW-Superior to maintain their advantage at 12-6 with 15:34 left in the opening half.

Northwestern (5-3) scored the next eight points, six of which came from Tiffany Stubbs, to take a 14-12 lead 13:05 showing on the clock.

The Eagles continued to lead at 19-17 with 8:20 left after three free throws by Chanel Madson.

But the Yellowjackets scored the next 13 points over a 4:30 span to take a 30-19 lead late in the half on the way to holding a 30-23 advantage at the intermission.

Blake started the run with a jumper at 8:01 and was followed by a basket from Hadley Skalmoski (Neenah, Wis./Neenah), a three-pointer by Liljander, two free throws each from Dana Karlstad (Eleva, Wis./Eleva-Strum) and Linzmeier, and a layup by Grace Kennedy (Wausau, Wis./Newman Catholic) for an 11-point UW-Superior lead and 3:50 showing on the clock.

The Eagles trimmed the deficit early in the second half, getting two free throws from Courtney Cunard and a three-pointer from Madson to come within 32-28 with 18:09 left in regulation.

UW-Superior responded with eight straight points however to up the margin to 12 as Kennedy scored on a layup, Blake knocked down two free throws, Linzmeier connected on a jumper, and Molly Atherton (Blaine, Minn./Blaine) got an inside basket to make it a 40-28 game with 14:40 remaining in the second half.

From there, the Yellowjackets pulled away, taking a 68-42 lead on a three-point play by Sarah Lekson (North Branch, Minn./North Branch) at the 5:46 mark before a jumper by Katie Boone (Mindoro, Wis./Melrose-Mindoro) made it a 77-47 game with just 1:02 left in the contest.

Linzmeier led UW-Superior with 16 points while Kennedy added 12 points and Karlstad 11.  The Yellowjackets also held Northwestern to 26.4 percent shooting (14-of-53) for the game and out-rebounded the Eagles by a 44-34 margin.

Northwestern was paced by Madson with 16 points. Cunard and Stubbs each added 12 points for the Eagles.

The Yellowjackets hit the road to face Bethany Lutheran on Saturday.  Game time from Mankato, Minn. Is scheduled for 3 p.m.