North Michigan News

After facing two consecutive defeats at home, the Northern Michigan University (NMU) women's basketball team is preparing for away games against Ferris State and Lake Superior State. The Wildcats, holding an 11-5 overall record and a 5-3 standing in the conference, aim to recover from losses to Wayne State and Saginaw Valley State. They will play against Ferris State on Thursday, January 23, at 5:30 p.m., followed by a match with Lake Superior State on Saturday, January 25, at 1 p.m.

The Wildcats currently rank fourth in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), trailing behind Parkside, Ferris State, and Grand Valley State. Their defense has been pivotal this season, allowing only 60.3 points per game—second only to Grand Valley State—and restricting opponents to a 28.2% three-point shooting percentage.

Key players include Jacy Weisbrod, who ranks fourth in the conference with an average of 14.3 points per game and leads nationally with her three-point shooting. Alyssa Nimz follows with an average of 9.3 points per game and ranks eighth in the league for rebounds. Sarah Newcomer contributes with an average of 9.1 points per game and ranks third in assist/turnover ratio within the league.

Head coach Casey Thousand led NMU to their best start since the late '90s with an eight-game winning streak earlier this season. Under her guidance over three-plus seasons, NMU achieved a record of 48-28 and made it to the NCAA Tournament last year.

Ferris State holds a strong position in the league with a 7-1 conference record and ranks second nationally for offense, averaging over 80 points per game. Key player Kadyn Blanchard leads both the league and nation in free-throw percentage while also leading in scoring.

Lake Superior State stands at a different spot with a more challenging season so far but features notable performances from Grace Bradford and Breah Golden.

Both upcoming matches are accessible through FloSports or via radio on The Point station.