MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan women's basketball team is set to host a GLIAC Quarterfinal game for the second straight season as they have earned the No. 3 seed and will host No. 6 Wayne State on Wednesday, March 6 at 5:30 p.m. from the Berry Events Center. 

Northern finished out the regular season at 19-8 and 13-5 in the conference while the Warriors went 16-11 and 9-9. The sides have been trending in opposite directions, with the Wildcats winning seven of eight and the Warriors entering on a four-game skid. 

Fans can purchase tickets HERE, valid for both the women's and men's games. 


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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, March 6 - vs. No. 6 Wayne State at 5:30 p.m.
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Last Time Out
After a hard-fought 74-67 overtime defeat to the nation's No. 2 Grand Valley State Lakers on Thursday, Northern bounced back in the regular season finale on Saturday, leading wire-to-wire in a 64-54 triumph of Davenport. 

The win was led by Makaylee Kuhn with 19 points while Abi Fraaza impressed off the bench with 16 points and nine boards for a near double-double. It was a cold-shooting day for each side, as NMU (33.9%) barely edged DU (33.8%) from the floor. The Wildcats held the Panthers to just a 1-15 (6.7%) clip from three while pulling down 10 more rebounds than the opposition. 


Cat Nips

• The Wildcats are ranked at No. 4 in the latest Midwest Regional poll.
• In the last eight games, NMU has averaged 70.1 points/game while allowing just 58.6. 
• Senior Makaylee Kuhn is first in the conference averaging 18.0 ppg and is fourth at 6.9 rpg. She has scored in double figures in all but two games this season and has averaged 22.0 ppg over the last seven. Kuhn is 120-144 (83.3%) from the free throw line this season, good for second in the GLIAC. She is a three-time All-GLIAC First Teamer and was named to the Preseason First Team. NMU's all-time leading scorer currently has 1,957 career points.
• Sophomore gaurd Jacy Weisbrod is averaging 12.5 points/game this season, a top-10 conference mark. She is far-and-away the conference leader in threes, connecting on 74-180 (41.1%). She is 20th in the country in made threes and 19th in threes/game (2.85). She has made at least one in all 26 of her games this season and has connected on 5+ an outstanding six times. Her 14.8 points/game in GLIAC play ranks sixth.
• Ana Rhude has been a force in the paint, rejecting 34 shots this season (second in the league). Her 129 career blocks is seven off of the all-time program mark, set by Jessica Schultz (136). 
• Northern leads the GLIAC in fewest turnovers/game (11.8), which is the third best mark in the country. The Wildcats are also 20th nationally in assist/turnover ratio (1.1) and 22nd in FT percentage (76.6%). 
• As a team, NMU allows just 6.7 offensive rebounds/game to opponents, the fewest across conference teams. The 'Cats are second in the conference in rebounding margin (6.4). 
• After struggling from the three-point line a season ago where they went just 121-454 (26.7%), the 'Cats have made tremendous strides beyond the arc this season, as they are second in the GLIAC in made threes and percentage (201-606 - 33.2%). 
• The Green and Gold can present a balanced scoring attack on any given night, as nine different 'Cats have recorded a double-digit output game this season.
• In two seasons under head coach Casey Thousand, the Wildcats have hosted a playoff game in each and have a record of 34-21 (.618). 

Notes on Wayne State
At 16-11 overall and an even 9-9 conference record, the Warriors enter postseason play as the No. 6 seed. WSU has been stumbled down the stretch, dropping its last four to Ferris State, Michigan Tech, Northern, and Saginaw Valley. Away from home, the Warriors have gone 8-6. 

They have made more free throws than anyone in the conference, going 363-478 (75.9%).  Defending the three-point line has been a struggle for the Warriors throughout the campaign as they have given up a league-high 201 triples on 36.3%. 

Shea Tripp is 8th in the GLIAC at 13.3 points/game while Gabi Lutchka isn't far back at 11.9. Tripp has been a stalwart on the defensive end, leading the conference with 70 steals this season. Becca Fugate is second in the GLIAC shooting an efficient 42.2% from beyond the arc. 


This Season vs. the Warriors
The Wildcats defeated Wayne State 81-66 way back on December 7 at home, a game played in the PEIF practice gym. Three 'Cats poured in season-highs: Kuhn led the way with 30, Mackenzie Holzwart added 17, and Kayla Tierney had 14. The Warriors were led with 26 from Shea Tripp and 20 from Gabi Lutchka. 

More recently, the Wildcats traveled to the Motor City on February 24th and upended the Warriors 80-74. NMU trailed by six points in the final frame, but went on an 11-0 run to take the road victory. Kuhn had another 24 and Weisbrod followed right behind with 22. 


GLIAC Tournament
Wednesday, March 6 | Quarterfinals
Campus sites, higher seed is host

Game 1    No. 1 Grand Valley State vs. No. 8 Purdue Northwest, 6 p.m.
Game 2    No. 4 Michigan Tech vs. No. 5 Parkside, 6 p.m.
Game 3    No. 3 Northern Michigan vs. No. 6 Wayne State, 5:30 p.m.
Game 4    No. 2 Ferris State vs. No. 7 Saginaw Valley State, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 9| Semifinals
Hosted by highest remaining seed following the quarterfinals

Game 5    Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2    
Game 6    Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4    

Sunday, March 10 | Championship 
Hosted by highest remaining seed following the quarterfinals

Game 7    Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6