WESTVILLE, Ind. – A huge game by sophomore Shae Rhonehouse (Fremont, Ind./Fremont) propelled the Purdue Northwest women's basketball team to a big 70-51 win over Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) foe Lake Superior State University (Mich.) Saturday afternoon at H.D. Kesling Gymnasium at the James B. Dworkin Complex in Westville, Ind. 

Rhonehouse scored 19 of her game-best 24 points in the first half in helping the Pride take control of the game in the opening quarter. 

Senior Ellie Michalski (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago) had a big game as well for PNW finishing with 13 points and a season-high tying 17 rebounds.  Freshman Danielle Nennig (Wrightstown, Wis./Wrightstown) added a career-high 14 points to aid the effort. 

Purdue Northwest shot 69 percent (9-for-13) from the field in the first quarter to score 28 points. 

Rhonehouse helped get the Pride off to a hot start scoring seven of the team's first 10 points to build an early 10-3 lead over the game's first two minutes.  PNW kept the pressure on and a three-pointer by Nennig at the 4:00 mark of the quarter extended the lead to 10, 21-11.  A strong finish to the period allowed Purdue Northwest to take a 28-16 advantage into the second quarter.  

The hot play continued into the new frame for Rhonehouse as the Pride pushed their lead further into double digits.  Her 19 first-half points steered PNW to an impressive 42-26 halftime advantage.  The Lakers opened the third quarter with a 9-0 run to close within seven, 42-35, with 6:15 left to play in the period. 

However, big plays offensively by Nennig and freshman Lanie Allen (East Noble, Ind./East Noble) in the latter half of the quarter enabled PNW to push its lead back into double digits and take a 51-38 edge into the final period. 

A three by Rhonehouse with 6:01 to play capped a 6-0 run by the Pride to open the fourth quarter and put the hosts ahead, 57-38.  The large lead was never threatened by the Lakers the rest of the game.     

Purdue Northwest (3-13 overall/2-9 GLIAC) continues its season on Saturday, January 27, heading to Allendale, Mich., to take on Grand Valley State University (Mich.) for a conference match-up.  The road game is scheduled for a noon CT start at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena in Allendale.