MARQUETTE, Mich. - It will be a busy week for the Northern Michigan women's basketball team, as they travel to Roosevelt University for a matchup on Wednesday, November 15 at 6 p.m. before returning home to host Southwest Minnesota State on Friday, November 17 at 2 p.m.
Friday's home opener against the Mustangs will take place in the PEIF Gym.
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Follow @NMU_WBBall and @NMU_Wildcats on X (formerly known as Twitter) for updates leading up to and during the race.
Wednesday, November 15 - at Roosevelt at 6 p.m.
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Live Stats
Friday, November 17 - vs. Southwest Minnesota State (PEIF Gym) at 2 p.m.
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Live Stats
Last Weekend
The Wildcats picked up a pair of wins at the GLVC/GLIAC Challenge to start the season. Northern first defeated Lewis, the GLVC preseason favorite, by a 56-52 margin. NMU outscored the Flyers 15-5 over the final nine minutes to complete the comeback win.
The Wildcats defense locked down in the final quarter, as Lewis shot 3-19 (15.8%) in the final frame, including an 0-8 clip to end the game.
Makaylee Kuhn scored nine of her team-high 16 points in the final quarter to lead the charge back. She added 10 rebounds for a double-double.
Jacy Weisbrod also reached double figures with 11 points in her first game as a Wildcat.
The Green and Gold followed that up with a commanding 83-64 win over William Jewell.
Abi Fraaza poured in a team-high 19 points.
Mackenzie Holzwart was next for the 'Cats with 15 points while
Makaylee Kuhn added 13.
Cat Nips
- The Green and Gold carry over plenty of firepower to the new campaign, highlighted by three-time All-GLIAC First Teamer Makaylee Kuhn, who has again been selected to the Preseason First Team. The Hilbert, Wisconsin native entered the season with 1,470 career points, 229 back of the all-time lead at Northern Michigan. Through two games, she is averaging 14.5 ppg and 9.0 rpg while shooting 50% from the floor and a perfect 13-13 from the free-throw line.
- Northern averaged 60.3 ppg last season and returns 88.4% of its scoring from a season ago, including point guard Mackenzie Holzwart, forward Abi Fraaza, wing Sarah Newcomer. Fraaza is second on the team in 2023-24 with 13.5 ppg while Holzwart is averaging 10.5 ppg through the two games and also leading the team in assists with six.
- Jacy Weisbrod scored 11 points in her NMU debut with three triples and is averaging 7.0 ppg after the first weekend. Another new face to the 'Cats, freshman Braelyn Torres is averaging 4.5 ppg while being a disrupter on the defensive end.
Notes on Roosevelt
Roosevelt was approved as a provisional member of the GLIAC and will begin full competition in 2024-25.
The Lakers are 1-3 so far this season with the win coming most recently against Rochester, a 88-62 thumping. As a team, Roosevelt is averaging 61.5 ppg and allowing 69.0 ppg while shooting 37.0% from the floor and 24.2% from beyond the arc.
Senior guard Jayla Turchin is leading the team with 12.5 ppg after a 16.8 ppg clip last season. Kristen Keys (9.5 ppg), Kencia Levasseur (9.0 ppg) are also near double figures on the young season.
Notes on Southwest Minnesota State
The Mustangs are 0-2 this season, 19-11 in 2022-23, with a 94-89 loss to Northwest Missouri State and a 76-68 defeat at the hands of Nebraska-Kearney.
So far this season, SMSU is led by Bri Solzman who has scored 52 points (26.0 ppg) through two games, including a 36 point effort in the opener. Last season, she averaged 13.8 ppg.
Preseason Poll
The Wildcats, who finished in fourth place a season ago, received 52 votes to slot in where they finished to end last season. Grand Valley State is the reigning regular season and tournament champion in the conference, as they are the favorites to repeat with 79 total points and seven first-place votes. Ferris State follows tightly behind with 73 points and the remaining three first-place votes.
1 Grand Valley State - 79 (7)
2 Ferris State - 73 (3)
3 Michigan Tech - 66
4 Northern Michigan - 52
5 Wayne State - 46
6 Parkside - 40
7 Saginaw Valley State - 37
8 Davenport - 22
9 Purdue Northwest - 19
10 Lake Superior State - 16
