MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan women's basketball team prepares for GLIAC play this weekend. Northern will look to get back on track by hosting Wayne State on Thursday, December 7, at 5:30 p.m. followed by a matchup with Saginaw Valley State on Saturday, December 9, at 11:00 a.m.

Both games will take place in the PEIF Gym and will be available to watch on FloHoops ($) and streamed on 100.3 The Point, with Casey Ford on the call. 


Toy Drive on Saturday
The Northern Michigan Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) will be running a toy drive during Saturday's game. Bring new/unopened toys with all donations going to the Salvation Army!


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

Thursday, December 7  - vs. Wayne State at 5:30 p.m. (PEIF Gym)
Watch  |  Live Stats  |  Listen

Saturday, December 9 - vs. Saginaw Valley State  at 11 a.m. (PEIF Gym)
Watch  |  Live Stats  |  Listen


A Word from Casey Thousand
"Last year these were very even matchups. When you have a game on Thursday and Saturday before break, it allows you to dip your toes and the water and see what it's like."



Last Time Out
The Wildcats had a pair of away matchups after Thanksgiving break playing, St. Cloud State, and No. 25 Minnesota Duluth. The Cats' would go on to fall against both teams to end the weekend. 

Against St. Cloud State, NMU fell to the undefeated Huskies 66-56. The Cats' struggled shooting vs. the Huskies as they shot 19-68 (27.9%) from the field, and 6-27 (22.2%) from three.

Against Minnesota Duluth, NMU fell 63-42. Northern continued to struggle shooting, going 13-60 (21.7%) from the field and 5-18 (27.8%) from three. Sarah Newcomer paced the Wildcats with 13 points including a 3-5 clip from three. Ana Rhude led the way on the glass for the Cats' with a season-high 13 boards. Makaylee Kuhn led the team with a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double, her third of the season. 


Cat Nips

• Northern leads the GLIAC is fewest turnovers/game (12.3) and is second in the GLIAC in FT percentage (77.2%). The Wildcats are averaging 4.1 more rebounds a contest than their opponents. As a team, NMU is shooting 35.3% from the floor and 31.1% from three. 
• Makaylee Kuhn leads the team averaging 17.1 ppg (second in the GLIAC) and is fifth at 7.1 rpg. She is 44-50 (88.0%) from the free throw line this season.
• Kuhn currently has 1,590 career points. That mark is 109 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 7.0 ppg, 3.4 apg, and 5.9 rpg. Holzwart also leads the team with nine steals on the season. She is second among GLIAC guards in defensive rebounds/game (4.3). 
• 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 Wayne State
The Warriors enter the matchup on a six-game winning streak. They have outscored opponents by 18.2 per game during that stretch. Wayne State is 3-1 away from their home court, but have held opponents under 70 points per game (67.3.7) this season while scoring 77.6 ppg themselves. 

Warriors shoot 46.2% from the field and 35.7% from three. The Warriors are led by junior forward Shea Tripp who is averaging 13.0 ppg on 54.7% shooting, and averaging 6.3 rpg. Tripp is also first in the GLIAC in steals per game (3.3). Sophomore forward Gabi Lutchka is right behind at 11.2 ppg, while shooting 23-31 (74.2%) from the field and 5-7 (71.4%) from three. 

The teams split last season, with each team winning on the road. Makaylee Kuhn averaged 12.5 ppg in the two games.

Carrie Lohr is in her 13th season for the Warriors, as their head coach. 


Notes on Saginaw Valley State
The Cardinals enter the weekend 3-3, winning their last 3 games. SVSU has won their lone road contest and is averaging 66.2 ppg on the season. The Cardinals are shooting 42% from the field, and 25.9% from deep. 

The Cardinals offense is led by junior guard Aleshia Jones who is ranked fifth in the GLIAC in ppg (15.2). Jones also leads the team in rebounds/game averaging 5.7. Sophomore guard Lydia Meredith is second in GLIAC in steals per game (3.2). Senior Forward Tyler Scheid crashes the offensive glass better than anyone in the conference, averaging 4.0 per game.

Jenny Pruett is entering her 5th season as head coach for the Cardinals.