SUPERIOR, Wis. – Wednesday night, the Yellowjacket women's basketball team got off to a fast start at Northland, outscoring the LumberJills 26-12 in the opening 10 minutes and cruising to a 74-52 road win.
 
Saturday afternoon, the same two teams met, this time in the comfy confines of Mertz Mortorelli Gym, and the Yellowjackets got off to an even better start than they did just a few days ago.

The Yellowjackets outscored Northland 31-13 in the first quarter and led by 25 at the half as they rolled over the LumberJills 82-45.
 
A balanced attack was employed by the Yellowjackets (5-12, 4-4 UMAC) Saturday, with 18 players seeing time in the game and 14 players scoring at least one point.
 
The 'Jackets got off to a hot start Saturday, hitting their first bucket within the first 10 seconds and leading 8-0 when the game was just over a minute old. Superior kept applying pressure throughout the frame, forcing multiple Northland turnovers which contributed to the lopsided score.
 
Early in the second quarter the Yellowjacket lead hit 20 points, when Elise Besonen (Ewen, Mich./Ewen-Trout Creek), one of three Yellowjackets to score in double figures in the game, hit a jumper with 8:46 to go in the half. Later in the quarter the lead increased again, and just before time expired in the half Allie Zimmer (Waconia, Minn./Waconia) hit from outside, putting the 'Jackets up by 25 as the teams went to the locker room.
 
As the second half unfolded the Yellowjackets kept pouring in the baskets. Paige Servais (Savage, Minn./Burnsville) hit a jumper in the paint with 4:43 to go in the third quarter, increasing the lead to 31 points as the 'Jackets doubled up Northland, 62-31. Then, with the clock running down in the quarter Allison Luoma (Iron River, Wis./Northwestern) put in a layup, giving the Yellowjackets a 71-35 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
 
The Yellowjackets stretched their lead to a game-high 41 early in the fourth quarter. Freshman Julie Deveney hit a three just 1:05 in, giving the Yellowjackets a 76-35 lead. The teams would trade baskets throughout the quarter, and the Yellowjackets closed out the scoring with 10 seconds left, making the final 82-45 on an Erika Mattson (Ely, Minn./Ely Memorial) free throw.
 
Besonen, Zimmer and Kaija Davies (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin) all finished with 10 points, while Servais and Sam Parendo (Proctor, Minn./Proctor) each dropped in nine to pace the Yellowjacket offense. The Yellowjackets shot 42.9 percent (33-of-77) from the field, including going 10-of-23 from outside the arc. The Yellowjackets also outrebounded Northland 35-31, led by Davies and Brianna O'Donnell (Richfield, Minn./Richfield), who each had four.
 
Northland's Miranda Wagner led all scorers with 17 points.
 
The Yellowjackets will be back in action Friday, Feb. 4 when they travel to New Ulm, Minn. to take on Martin Luther. The opening tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. at the Luther Student Center.