MARQUETTE, Mich. - With the Northern Michigan women's basketball team holding a 6-0 record for the first time since the 1999-2000 season, the Wildcats will open up GLIAC play this week by hosting Purdue Northwest and Parkside at Vandament Arena. 

The 'Cats will open with the Purdue Northwest Pride (3-3) on Thursday, December 5, at 5:30 p.m., and then turn their attention to the Parkside Rangers (4-2) on Saturday, December 7, at noon. 

Northern Michigan is currently the top team receiving votes in the WBCA national poll while being ranked No. 19 in the D2CSC poll. 

The games can be listened to on 100.3 The Point, with Casey Ford on the call.


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

Thursday, December 5 - vs.Purdue Northwest at 5:30 p.m.
Tickets  |  Watch  |  Live Stats  |  Listen 

Saturday, December 7 - vs. Parkside at 12 p.m.
Tickets  |  Watch  |  Live Stats  |  Listen 


A Word from Casey Thousand
"It's been a full team effort and that has contributed to our success so far. We're excited just to be back at home. It's one day at a time."



About the 'Cats
Two weekends ago, the Wildcats reached a 6-0 record for the first time since the 1999-2000 season. The wins came against Minnesota Duluth 65-63 followed by a 63-52 triumph against St. Cloud State. 

Currently placed 6th in the GLIAC for scoring, Jacy Weisbrod leads the team with an average of 15.0 points per game. Weisbrod also comes in third in the league for triples, currently at 19 through six games after leading the way last season with 92. 

Not too far behind is Sarah Newcomer, who averages 13.5 points per game, and is ranked 11th in the conference in scoring. She is right behind Weisbrod, ranked fourth in the GLIAC with 16 threes.

Alyssa Nimz holds Northern's forefront in rebounds. Ranking 7th in the GLIAC on the glass, Nimz has pulled down 47 in total so far this season, averaging 7.8 per game. Transfer Alyssa Hill trails closely with 37 rebounds in total and a 6.2 per game average. 

NMU ranks 35th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.09), 39th in field goal percentage defense (35.0), and 43rd in rebounds per game (42.67). They also rank 31st nationally for three-pointers per game (8.3), 36th for scoring defense (54.8), and 43rd for three-point attempts per game (24.5). 

Head coach Casey Thousand has accrued a record of 43-23 (.652) in her 2+ seasons at the helm. Last year, Northern went 22-10 and made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019, defeating Kentucky Wesleyan to make the Round of 32.


A Look at Purdue Northwest
Under first year head coach Jesse Ford and assistant Mia Reise, the Pride currently hold a 3-3 record after going 11-18 a season ago.

Akyia Baker leads PNW in scoring and is placed 3rd in the GLIAC, as she averages 16.5 points per game. Alyssa Cole paces the Black and Gold in rebounds, totaling 38 so far this season, and having an average of 6.3 per game. Cherrelle Newsom ranks 22nd in the league for scoring, averaging 11.2 points per game. Newsom is also ranked 1st in the league and 29th nationally for three-pointers, having made 20 so far this season. She also leads the league in three-point field goals per game, averaging 3.3. 

With a field goal percentage of 42.0%, Purdue is 35.7% from the three-point arc and 63.6% from the charity stripe. The Pride's offense is ranked 4th in the league, as they average 69.7 points per game. PNW is also ranked 15th nationally for defensive three-point percentage (22.5%), 26th for three-pointers per game in total (51), 32nd in three-point percentage (35.66%), and 35th for assist-to-turnover ratio (1.08). 

The Wildcats hold a triumphant lead against PNW in the history books (12-2), as the 'Cats came out with a 73-62 victory against the Pride at home last season. 


A Look at Parkside 
Ranked 4th in the GLIAC, the Rangers currently hold a winning record of 4-2, as the team is coming off a victory against St. Cloud State last weekend, 69-63. 

Parkside's offense is led by Cassidy Arni, who is currently ranked 4th in the league for scoring, holding an average of 16 points per game. Arni is also runner-up in the league and nationally ranked 29th in field goal percentage (57.4%). 

Shooting from the foul line, Sheridan Flauger ranks first in the league and 12th nationally with a free-throw percentage of 96.3%. 

On the defensive side, Lillie Petersen ranks 3rd in the GLIAC and paces the Rangers in rebounds, totaling 52 this season and averaging 8.7 per game. 

Parkside holds a 40.1 field-goal percentage so far this season, 25% average from three, and a successful free-throw percentage (72.6%). The team's offense is ranked 3rd in the league. The Rangers also rank 15th nationally in defensive rebounds per game (31.5), 19th in blocks per game (5.0), and 26th in average free-throws made (16.3). 

Last season, Parkside went 16-12 overall, losing 72-59 against GVSU in the GLIAC Semifinals. 

The Rangers and Wildcats' last matchup ended in a win for the 'Cats, 71-60. Northern has beaten Parkside in the team's last five matchups, holding an 11-5 record against the Rangers. 


GLIAC Preseason Poll
1.  Grand Valley State, 100 (10)
2.  Ferris State, 83 (1)
3.  Northern Michigan, 75
4.  Parkside, 71
5.  Michigan Tech, 68
6.  Wayne State, 66
7.  Saginaw Valley State, 44
8.  Purdue Northwest, 31
9.  Davenport, 29
10. Roosevelt, 20
11. Lake Superior State, 18