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Halftime score: Northern Michigan 47, Finlandia 23

Northern Michigan - Christa Erickson 16, Nicole Grengs 10, Kellie Rietveld 7, Shannon Helminen 7, Angie Leckson 7, Erin Powers 7, Elicia Derusha 6, Steffani Stoeger 5, Lauren Beeler 4, Callie Youngman 3, Mariah Dunham 2, Hillary Bowling 2; FT: 18-27; F: 17; Fouled out: none; 3-point field goals: Erickson 4, Grengs 3, Stoeger 1, Rietveld 1, Helminen 1.

Finlandia - Tyeshia Howard 9, Becky Kangas 8, Jillian Dolkey 8, Jodi Riutta 7, Ally Tincknell 7, Erin Connor 5, Jasmine Byers 3; FT: 8-16; F: 21; Fouled out: Connor.

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HANCOCK - Tuesday was a fine evening for all felines, Lions and Wildcats.

For Northern Michigan, a 76-47 win over Finlandia was a final dress rehearsal for Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play and a chance to give bench players an extended evaluation.

For Finlandia, the loss was full of nearly as many positives - the excitement of a marquee opponent at Paavo Nurmi Gym, a solid effort and improved execution.

"I think we've played the hardest 40 minutes we've played this year," Finlandia coach Curtis Wittenberg said.

The outcome wasn't in doubt for long as the Wildcats drilled four consecutive 3-pointers in the first 3:40, with three coming from senior Christa Erickson. The finish was certainly low-stress for NMU (2-2), but coach Troy Mattson was pleased with his team's intensity throughout.

"They play hard every play," he said. "We've been relentless attackers on the offensive glass, and that continued today."

Finlandia opened the scoring on a successful post move by Ally Tincknell 1:19 into the game, but its lead lasted exactly 11 seconds, when Erickson hit her first triple of four for the game. Steffani Stoeger and Calumet's Shannon Helminen also hit from outside to make it 19-8 eight minutes in.

"I think we were probably half a step slow getting out there (to defend the perimeter), but they have so many shooters, it's hard to get to them all," Wittenberg said.

NMU expanded its lead to as big as 26 and took a 47-23 advantage into halftime.

The Lions (1-7) put together several quality possessions early in the second half and closed the gap to 19 on a Becky Kangas triple 3:22 in, but NMU's lead hovered in the 20s for most of the last 20 minutes.

Mattson took advantage of NMU's lead to give significant minutes to several reserves - including WestPAC alumnae Helminen (Calumet) and Lauren Beeler (L'Anse).

Helminen was the 2005 U.P. Class A-B-C Player of the Year, but took an extended hiatus from basketball at NMU. She returned to the court just in time - the Wildcats dismissed a guard from their team this week and she will be called upon to be the second-string point guard.

"She just comes to work every single day. I really love her attitude," Mattson said.

Mattson also singled out senior center Angie Leckson for praise. She posted seven points and presented significant match-up problems for the Lions with her size and post moves.

"I was really inspired about her play," Mattson said.

Erickson led the Wildcats with 16 points and junior Nicole Grengs added 10. Helminen finished with seven points and Beeler four. NMU hosts Northwood Thursday night to open the GLIAC slate.

"I'm happy with where we're at. I think the effort and energy is there and that's the most important thing right now," he said.

Finlandia was led by nine points from Tyeshia Howard. Kangas and Jillian Dolkey added eight. The Lions play their second of three games this month against Division II opposition Dec. 8, when they cross the canal to face Michigan Tech.

"I think this is definitely a building block right now," Wittenberg said.

Brandon Veale can be reached at bveale@mininggazette.com.