MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan women's basketball team will have a busy Thanksgiving week. They will first host reigning national champion and No. 1 Ashland University on Tuesday, November 21, at 3 p.m. before heading to St. Cloud State on Saturday and Minnesota Duluth on Sunday. 

It's as tough of a stretch as it gets in college hoops, as the 'Cats play the defending national champions in the Ashland Eagles as well as last year's national runner-up in Minnesota Duluth come the weekend. 

The home matchup against the Eagles on Tuesday will take place in the PEIF Gym. 


Follow The Action
Follow @NMU_WBBall and @NMU_Wildcats on X (formerly known as Twitter) for updates leading up to and during the race. 

Tuesday, November 21 - vs. No. 1 Ashland at 3 p.m. (PEIF Gym)
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Saturday, November 25 - at St. Cloud State at 3 p.m. ET
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Sunday, November 26 - at Minnesota Duluth at 3 p.m. ET
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Last Weekend
The Wildcats remained perfect on the season with a 75-61 win at Roosevelt followed by a 74-53 drubbing of Southwest Minnesota State in the home opener. 

Makaylee Kuhn averaged 22.5 ppg in the two contests, including a 24-point, 10-rebound double-double at Roosevelt. She followed it up with 21 points, five rebounds, and five assists against the Mustangs. Kuhn shot 17-18 from the charity stripe. Mackenzie Holzwart stuffed the stat sheet, averaging 9.5 points/game, 9 rebounds/game, 4 assists/game, and 4 steals/game. 


Cat Nips

• The Wildcats have started the regular season 4-0 for the first time since 2008-09. 
• Northern is leading the GLIAC is fewest turnovers/game (10.0) and is second in the GLIAC in rebounds/game (41.3) and FT percentage (79.4%). The Wildcats are averaging 9.5 more rebounds a contest than their opponents. As a team, NMU is shooting 39.8% from the floor and 34.0% from three. 
• Makaylee Kuhn leads the team averaging 18.5 ppg (second in the GLIAC) and 8.3 rpg. She is 30-31 (96.8%) from the free throw line this season. She is the nation's FT percentage leader for those that have attempted 18+ free throws.
• Kuhn currently has 1,544 career points. That mark is 155 points off of the all-time NMU lead (1,699 points - Lisa Jamula). Kuhn is a three-time All-GLIAC First Teamer and was named to the Preseason First Team.
• Mackenzie Holzwart was named the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week on November 20. She is averaging 10.0 ppg, 3.5 apg, and 6.8 rpg. Holzwart also leads the team with eight steals on the season. She leads GLIAC guards in defensive rebounds/game (5.3). 
• The Green and Gold present a balanced offensive attack, as eight different 'Cats have scored at least nine points in a game so far this season. 

Notes on Ashland
The defending national championships are 4-0 on the season and are currently on a 41-game winning streak after a perfect 37-0 season in 2022-23. The Eagles most recently were at Michigan Tech on Sunday, as they defeated the Huskies 74-67. 

Ashland is averaging 82.8 ppg while allowing 62.3 ppg. They shoot 50.9% from the floor and 34.5% from three. 

Annie Roshak (18.0 ppg) and Zoe Miller (17.8 ppg) lead the team in scoring this season after each averaging over 12 points/game for the national championship team last season. Hayley Smith leads the squad on the glass, pulling down 8.5 boards a contest. 


Notes on St. Cloud State
The Huskies enter the week at 2-0, coming off of a 71-64 victory over GLIAC foe Parkside on saturday. SCSU is currently leading the country in rebounding margin, averaging 25 more per game than their opponents. 

St. Cloud is averaging 74.0 ppg and allowing 53.5 ppg. The Huskies are shooting 41.6% from the field while succeeding at a 43.2% clip from deep, the seventh best mark in the country for teams that have attempted at least 40 threes. 

The offensive attack is balanced, as six Huskies are averaging at least seven points through two games. Dru Henning (11.5 ppg) and Jada Eggebrecht (11.0 ppg) are the only two in double figures. Ashley Sawicki is recording an impressive 10.5 rebounds a game to lead the team. 


Notes on Minnesota Duluth
The Bulldogs lost in the national championship game last season to Ashland and are off to a 1-1 start, with most recently suffering a 77-49 defeat to Parkside on Sunday. 

UMD is scoring 59 points while allowing 68 a game. They are shooting 39.6% from the field while struggling from three so far this season, 26.7%. 

The offense is paced by Lexi Karge scoring 13.0 ppg, while Madelyn Granica (10.5) and Taytum Rhoades (10.0) are also in double figures. Ella Gilbertson leads the team with an average of 7.0 rebounds/game. 


GLIAC 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