Carney-Nadeau senior Grace Maule (30) attempts a 3-point shot during a game against North Dickinson on Dec. 13, 2024 at Carney-Nadeau School. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

IRONWOOD — Playing with the lead worked to Northern Wisconsin’s advantage here Thursday night in a 99-79 girls’ basketball triumph over Northern Michigan in the 10th Annual Kiwanis Club or Ironwood Classic Border Bash

That especially became evident in the second half when Wisconsin took the lead for good at Gogebic Community College’s Lindquist Center.

Michigan took its final lead at 46-45 early in the third quarter when St. Ignace’s Jillian Fraser drained a 20-foot jump shot.

Wisconsin surged to a 54-47 lead on a 21-foot jumper from the right wing by Most Valuable Player, Kali Heikkinen of Prentice, nearly midway through the third stanza.

Michigan got within 57-53 on a 21-foot set shot by Marquette’s Aubree Blackburn, a Bay College recruit.

Wisconsin then hiked its advantage to 68-55 on a three-point play by Neillsville’s Sydney Subke with 43.7 seconds left in the third.

Carney-Nadeau’s Grace Maule, however, provided a spark for Michigan with a jumper from the left corner at the buzzer, trimming its deficit to 68-58 on what will soon become her home floor as a Gogebic cager.

“It was really fun playing with the girls,” the future Samson said. “After that shot we felt we had some momentum. Finally getting to play on a college floor with a shot clock felt good. This is a lot different from high school. Sprinting up and down the floor keeps you in condition.”

Michigan crept within 68-65 on a steal and layup by Lake Linden-Hubbell’s Emily Jokela early in the fourth frame.

Wisconsin responded with 11 unanswered points, gaining a 79-65 cushion on a running jumper from the lane by Sevastopol’s Naomi Rikkola midway through the fourth.

“It was very important to respond when they got within three,” Northern Wisconsin coach Zachary Barker of Marinette said. “Not allowing them to get their deficit out of double digits I think was the difference in the game. Having more time together also helped. We knew they were going to be physical and number 12 (Jokela) is very fast.”

Michigan did manage to shave their deficit to nine points (83-74) on Fraser’s 12-foot running jumper with 5:01 remaining.

Wisconsin, however, didn’t allow its opponent to get any closer.

The first half was close.

A putback by Subke gave Wisconsin a 20-13 lead with two minutes left in the opening frame.

Michigan surged to a 25-21 lead early in the second on a jumper from top of the key by Fraser and still led 32-30 midway through that quarter.

A jumper from the boulevard by Crandon’s Lauren Littleton gave Wisconsin a 43-37 less than two minutes before halftime.

Michigan then rallied to tie the score at 43 when Johnson converted a steal into a layup 21 seconds prior to the intermission.

Johnson finished with 17 points. Fraser hit 16. St. Ignace’s Addison Cullen added 11 and Jokela had 10.

Heikkinen scored 18 points, followed by Ripon College recruit Rikkola with 17, Subke 15 and Littleton 14.

Wisconsin sank 14-of-17 free throws and committed 18 turnovers. Michigan was 9-of-18 from the line and had 15 miscues.

The winners were down to seven players after Sevastopol’s Kayla Ranly suffered a knee injury.

“We felt we had to get going to start the second half,” Rikkola said. “After they got within 68-65, we responded which was a big momentum builder. We were down to seven players after Kayla got hurt, which turned out to be a motivator. They were definitely faster than us, but we knew we had to pick it up.”

Subke won the three-point shooting contest and Kiefer was the free throw winner.

Northern Wisconsin  20  23  25  31  —  99

Northern Michigan  17  26  15  21  —  79

  Northern Wisconsin — Johnson 12, Viestenz 5, Ranly 7, Littleton 14, Keifer 11, Subke 15, Heikkinen 18. FT: 14-17; F: 16; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Heikkinen 3, Keifer 2, Subke 2, Ranly, Littleton.

  Northern Michigan — C. Cullen 3, Blackburn 3, Johnson 17, Corcoran 3, Anderson 5, Jokela 10, Maule 6, Fraser 16, Linsenbigler 5, A. Cullen 11. FT: 9-18; F: 14; Fouled out: Maule; 3-point field goals: Fraser 4, Maule 2, Jokela 2, C. Cullen.