North Michigan News

The Northern Michigan University (NMU) women's basketball team is set to host the Roosevelt Lakers on Monday, January 13, at 5:30 p.m. in Marquette. This game marks the first-ever meeting between the two schools as part of NMU's four-game homestand. The Wildcats recently secured a narrow victory over Michigan Tech with a score of 68-64, improving their season record to 10-3 and conference record to 4-1.

Roosevelt enters the matchup with an overall record of 4-7 and a conference record of 2-3, following a notable win against Michigan Tech with a score of 74-57 in Houghton. Fans can watch the game via the FloSports app or listen live on 100.3 The Point with Casey Ford providing commentary.

Northern Michigan finds itself competing closely at the top of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), trailing behind Grand Valley State, Ferris State, and Parkside. The Wildcats rank among the nation's top teams in turnovers per game and assist/turnover ratio.

Key players for NMU include Jacy Weisbrod, who ranks fourth in conference scoring with an average of 15.5 points per game and holds the second-best mark nationally for three-pointers made per game at 3.2. Sarah Newcomer and Alyssa Nimz contribute significantly to scoring, while Abi Fraaza recently scored double figures in her season debut.

Defensively, NMU has excelled by allowing just 60.1 points per game, which is second only to Grand Valley State within the league. Under head coach Casey Thousand's leadership, NMU began this season with an impressive start reminiscent of their best start since the late '90s.

Roosevelt's roster features Jaylie Turchin and Marie Outlay as standout performers from their recent victory over Michigan Tech. Both players contributed significantly to Roosevelt's offense during that game.

Roosevelt averages 60.6 points per contest but faces challenges defensively by allowing opponents to score an average of 71 points per game while struggling offensively from both field goals and three-point range under head coach Dean Thomas' guidance during his third season leading them through Division II play after previous success at NAIA level tournaments.