MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan Wildcats (12-10, 7-6) will be on the road this week, with trips to Davenport (7-15, 1-11) and No. 6 Grand Valley State (20-2, 11-1) on the schedule. NMU has dropped three straight and is in a fight for a home playoff game, needing a top four spot by season's end. 

The Wildcats will first get off the bus at Davenport on Thursday, February 9. Tip-off will be at 5:30 p.m. Awaiting the Green and Gold on Saturday, February 11 will be the GLIAC's top team in Grand Valley State. The 'Cats and Lakers will clash at 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. 


Follow the Action
Follow @nmu_wbball and @NMU_Wildcats on Twitter for continuous updates throughout the week. 

Thursday, February 9 - at Davenport at 5:30 p.m.
Watch  |  Audio  |  Live Stats  |  Game Notes

Saturday, February 11 - at Grand Valley State at 1 p.m.
Watch  |  Audio  |  Live Stats  |  Game Notes


Last Time Out
The 'Cats dropped a pair of home decisions last week, coming up short to Saginaw Valley State 46-43 and Wayne State 69-64. 

Turnovers plagued the Wildcats vs. the Cardinals, as they fumbled it over to SVSU 17 times while the Cardinals committed just nine mishaps. SVSU also had 17 points off NMU turnovers. NMU shot 19-55 (34.5%) from the floor while SVSU was 15-52 (28.8%). SVSU got to the line much more often than the 'Cats, converting on 13-17 (76.5%) while NMU saw just a 1-3 (33.3%) clip. 

Mackenzie Holzwart led the team with 10 points while Makaylee Kuhn added eight. She also cleaned the glass for 10 rebounds, all on the defensive end. Tori DePerry led the Cardinals with a dominant 21-point, 14-rebound double-double. 

Looking to bounce back against the Warriors, NMU shot an efficient 10-19 from deep, but WSU's Shea Tripp posed a problem, posting 25 points. Makaylee Kuhn paced the 'Cats with 15 points. Sarah Newcomer came off the bench for 12 points on four triples. 

NMU shot 24-63 (38.1%) from the floor while WSU was 24-45 (53.3%). On the 3-point line, the 'Cats made 10 out of the 19 (52.6%) and the Warriors were 6-17 (35.3%).


Cat Attack
The Wildcats are 12-10 (7-6 GLIAC) this season and are currently sit tied for fifth in the GLIAC standings. NMU averages 59.1 PPG, the lowest average in the conference. What NMU lacks in offense is made up for on defense, as the 56.2 PPG allowed is the second-best mark in the conference and 16th best throughout DII hoops. Opponents shoot 38.1% against the Green and Gold defense, good for third in the conference. 

NMU is led by Makaylee Kuhn with an average of 15.0 PPG and 7.3 RPG. Mackenzie Holzwart averages 9.0 PPG and 5.6 RPG. 

The Wildcats have a 6.0 rebounding margin, the second-best in the conference. Northern also holds opponents to 10.0 assists/game, the third-best mark in the GLIAC. 


Scouting Davenport
The Panthers come into Thursday's matchup with an 7-15 overall record and a 1-11 record against GLIAC opponents. They have dropped five straight overall, but hold a 6-5 clip on home court.  The team averages 61.0 PPG.

DU is led by sophomore forward Lilee Gustafson who averages 14.5 PPG and 9.4 RPG. 


Previous Matchup vs. Davenport
The two sides clashed in Marquette on January 21, with NMU edging DU 57-46. 

Makaylee Kuhn led the all scorers with 22 points, adding on nine rebounds and five assists. She was a perfect 6-6 from the charity stripe. Following behind her was Mackenzie Holzwart with 11 points for the 'Cats, along with nine rebounds. Vivianne Jende came off the bench and made an impact, going 4-5 from the floor for 10 points. Lillee Gustafson led the Panthers with 16 points. 

The offenses struggled shooting in this one, with both NMU and DU shooting 19-52 (36.5%) from the floor. The Panthers were 4-18 (22.2%) from deep while the 'Cats also struggled, going 3-15 (20%). 


Scouting Grand Valley State
The Wildcats will have their hands full with the No.6 team in the country, as GVSU boasts a 20-2 overall record. The Lakers are 11-1 in the GLIAC at 10-1 playing at home. 

Grand Valley allows just 50.9 PPG, the third-best throughout the Division II landscape. They pace the GLIAC in several categories, highlighted by points per game at 78.1 and field goal percentage at 46.9%. The 12.9 rebounding margin for the Lakers is the best among any DII squads. 

The Lakers pose a balanced attack, led by Emily Spitzley with 14.0 PPG. Nicole Kamin is the lone GLIAC shooter with a over 50% success rate from three, shooting 50.9%. Four Lakers average at least four rebounds a game, led by Rylie Bisballe at 6.8. 


Previous Matchup vs. Grand Valley State
Northern gave Grand Valley a good run back on January 19 at the Berry Events Center, but ultimately fell 45-38. NMU held the Lakers to a season low 45 points.

Mackenzie Holzwart led all scorers with 12 points while Makaylee Kuhn chipped in nine points for the 'Cats, along with seven rebounds. 

NMU shot 14-52 (26.9%) from the floor and 3-15 (20%) from deep, while GVSU went 16-52 (30.8%) from the field and 3-16 (18.8%) from beyond the arc.