North Michigan News

Northern Michigan University (NMU) will induct five individual athletes into its Sports Hall of Fame, including Alyssa (Colla) DeCicco, a former standout basketball player who competed from 2011 to 2015. DeCicco is the fourth all-time leading scorer in NMU history with 1,567 points and served as team captain during her sophomore, junior, and senior years.

DeCicco earned multiple accolades throughout her college career. In her sophomore year in 2013, she received GLIAC Second Team and Academic Excellence honors. The following year, she was named to the Daktronics All-Midwest Region Second Team, GLIAC All-Defensive Team, and First Team All-GLIAC. She was also recognized as NMU's Female Athlete of the Year with a scoring average of 16.4 points per game. Her efforts contributed to the Wildcats winning a GLIAC Tournament title after a 14-year hiatus.

In her final season at NMU, DeCicco averaged 18.2 points per game—the second-best average in the GLIAC and the 12th highest single-season mark in NMU history. She garnered several awards including the GLIAC Commissioner's Award, Second Team Academic All-American, Daktronics All-Midwest Region First Team, All-GLIAC First Team, and GLIAC All-Defensive Team.

Post-graduation, DeCicco played professionally for the Cairns Dolphins in Australia alongside teammate Lauren Gruber before transitioning into coaching roles at the University of Dubuque and Carroll University. In 2022, she founded Rise Up Basketball Academy aimed at developing young student-athletes both on and off the court.

Reflecting on her time at NMU, DeCicco said: "It truly is so much bigger than basketball, and I thank God every day for directing me toward my calling and allowing me to impact the next generation."

She now resides in North Prairie, Wisconsin with her husband Patrick and their two sons.