Ashland, WI - The Northland College Lumberjills couldn't hold on to their lead late against the Sabercats of Maranatha Baptist University on Saturday in Ashland, WI.  The Jills fell in a tight contest to the Sabercats, 75-73.  After falling short to the Sabercats 69-49 on December 11th in Watertown, WI, NC was looking to even the score with a win at home.  

The Sabercats hit a 3-pointer to start the game, but the NC Freshman Bailey Wynn fired back a matching 3-pointer to knot the score at 3 early on.  As has been customary for the Jills this season, things took awhile to get going both offensively and defensively.  The light defensive pressure from NC and hot shooting from the Sabercats saw their lead grow to 19-8 in the first quarter until Wynn hit another 3-pointer to bring the Jills within 8, 19-11.  On the next possession for MBU, Sophomore Lindsay Bressette got a steal and layup to bring the Jills within 6, but NC gave up a bucket to end the quarter.  The Sabercats finished the first quarter up 21-13.  

The second quarter started the same way the first quarter did as MBU hit a 3-pointer and then NC's Freshman Miranda Wagner matched it.  NC struggled to cut into the MBU lead as the second quarter rolled on.  The teams traded baskets and Wagner scored on a put back to bring the Jills within 5, 32-27 but then the Sabercats continued to find holes in the NC defense and held a 12 point lead, 43-31 at halftime. 

To start the third quarter, NC Freshman Sarah Dunbar fouled MBU's Karley Johnson who made both free throws and the Sabercat lead grew to 14.  Despite the MBU lead, the Jills kicked up their full court defensive intensity another notch and used forced turnovers to get things rolling for themselves offensively.  NC was able to frustrate the Sabercats with their trapping defense and the Jills cut the lead down to 51-48 with 3:54 to go in the quarter.  The teams traded baskets and the quarter ended with NC Freshman Rhonda Cole making a layup as time expired.  The Jills only trailed by 4, 58-54 after three quarters.  NC also outscored MBU 23-15 in the third quarter. 

The defensive pressure from NC continued to give the Sabercats fits as the fourth quarter started.  The Jills kept cutting into the now small lead of MBU, as Junior Sarah Houle was finally able to knot the score at 60 with 6:32 left as she made both free throws after being fouled on a shot attempt inside .  Bressette gave the Jills their first lead on the next possession with a steal and a layup.  Their first lead energized NC as they upped their offensive and defensive pressure and extended their lead to 66-61.  The Sabercats didn't fold as they roared back to tie the score at 66 with 2:10 to go.  On the next possession for the Jills, Bressette scored inside to put NC up 68-66, but the Jills fouled the MBU shooter on the next possession who also made the shot for 3 points the hard way.  Houle fought hard for the rebound inside on the next NC possession and scored on a put-back to put NC back up by 1,  70-69.   MBU hit both free throws on their next possession after an NC foul and went up 71-70.  The Jills turned the ball over when they got the ball back and were forced to foul again, but the Sabercats hit their free throws and went up 3, 73-70.  Despite the clock winding down, the Jills still had time to tie the game with a 3-pointer and Freshman Ashley Lopez had a wide open look from the right wing but couldn't knock it down.  NC was again forced to foul and MBU split the pair of free throws.  Wynn put a cap on a great night for NC as she heaved in another 3 before the buzzer sounded.  

Wynn finished with 17 points, 7 steals, 5 assists and 4 rebounds and Wagner had 18 points, 7 rebounds for the Lumberjills.  Bressette chipped in 11 points and 5 steals for NC.  MBU was led by the Johnson sisters, Karley and Kelsey who each scored 21 points.  Despite the loss, the Jills forced 26 turnovers, had 19 steals and 17 assists as a team.  

NC starts a tough conference stretch as they face the University of Northwestern on Wednesday in St. Paul, MN and then conference leader Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, MN on Saturday, January 11th.