MARQUETTE, Mich. -- The Wayne State University women's basketball team improved to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the GLIAC with a 69-57 road win at Northern Michigan Monday afternoon.

In a tightly contested match that saw 10 lead changes and 12 ties, it was strong defense and superb free throw shooting down the stretch by the Warriors to knock off the Wildcats.

The game was tied at 48 with 7:45 remaining after a bucket by NMU's Kendall Martenet.  Senior Jackie Jones (Detroit, Mich. / Martin Luther King) hit a jumper and after a Wildcat turnover sophomore Christina Green (Southfield, Mich. / Lathrup) scored from inside.  Northern Michigan was able to get within one (54-53) following a conventional three-point play Lauren Gruber with 5:08 left.

Another jumper by Green and a pair of free throws by senior Shareta Brown (Pontiac, Mich. / Grand Blanc) increased the margin to five (58-53).  With Wayne State leading 60-57 and the shot clock winding down, Jones drained a triple with 2:09 remaining to push the lead to six (63-57).

After a missed lay-up by Martenet, Brown scored from inside to make it an eight-point game.

The Warriors outscored the hosts 21-9 after the game was knotted at 48.

Brown finished with game-high totals of 27 points and 19 rebounds as WSU held a 43-32 edge in rebounding.  Jones contributed 16 points, three assists and two steals, while Green added 13 points and eight rebounds off the bench.  Ondrea Hughes (Kalamazoo, Mich. / Loy Norrix) chipped in a career-best four blocks, along with two assists and two steals.

Alyssa Colla led NMU with 20 points, while Courtney Lemon had 15 points and Gruber totaled 14 points and a game-best four assists.

Wayne State will host its Holiday Classic Tournament this Friday and Saturday at the Matthaei with Northwood playing the early game both days, followed by the Warriors contest in the nightcap.  Bellarmine and Salem International are the other two teams participating.