MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan University women's basketball team is ready for a three game homestand to start out the 2022 year strong.
NMU is gearing up for a Sunday, Jan. 2 matchup at 1 p.m. against non-conference U.P. opponent Finlandia University before returning to Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play the following week against Purdue Northwest and Parkside.
WEEKLY NOTES:
FOLLOW ALONG
Follow @NMU_Wildcats on Twitter for continued coverage throughout the week and during the game. Fans can follow the action live using the live stats and video links below.
SUNDAY vs. FINLANDIA
Live Stats: bit.ly/3Jlly52
Video: bit.ly/3Fy9USf
Tickets: bit.ly/32vIX3d
FRESHMAN STANDOUTS
Kayla Tierney finds herself ranked just outside the top 10 in two separate categories for the GLIAC; three-point field goal attempts and three-point field goals made. Tierney ranks seventh in the GLIAC for three-point field goals per game.
Ana Rhude continues to be a force within the paint, recording a total of 11 blocked shots in 128 minutes of play this season. Rhude tallied 11 points in 14 minutes of play in NMU's latest matchup against Lake Superior State University.
Vivianne Jende led the Wildcats in scoring in their last matchup with 12 points, shooting 45 percent from the field in 19 minutes of play.
STAT LEADERS
Sophomore guard
Makaylee Kuhn continues to lead the 'Cats in several statistical categories, while also ranking in the top five in a majority of GLIAC statistics, most notably in points per game, with an average of 17. Kuhn also ranks third in the GLIAC, making 48.7 percent of her field goals.
Forward
Emily Mueller, playing an average of 22 minutes per game, continues to play strong defensively, grabbing 4.8 defensive rebounds per game, good for sixth in the GLIAC.
Northern ranks 17th in the nation in rebounding margin in Division II, pulling down an average of 9.4 more boards per game.
MATCHUP HISTORY
The Wildcats are a perfect 12-0 against Finlandia University since their first matchup in the 2003-04 season, with a 3-0 record in regular season matchups. Northern defeated the Lions by a score of 79-38 in their most recent exhibition in 2018-19.
Only three current Wildcats have suited up during the most recent matchup between the two programs. Junior
Emily Mueller found herself with 11 points in 23 minutes of play while sophomore
Madigan Johns recorded eight points and four assists and senior
Elizabeth Lutz went 100 percent from the charity stripe in her 22 minutes of play.
A LOOK AHEAD
NMU will return to GLIAC play next week with a pair of matchups at the Berry. Purdue Northwest will visit on Thursday, Jan. 6 with a 5:30 p.m. start. The three game homestand will wrap up on Saturday, Jan. 8 against Parkside with opening tip-off at 11 a.m.
