MARQUETTE, Mich. – Opening the final weekend of regular season play, the Wildcats handled business against the Roosevelt Lakers on Thursday evening with a wire-to-wire 89-58 victory. 

Northern put together several sizable runs during the game, but none greater than the one to close the first and open the second. Between 2:20 left in the opening frame and 5:30 remaining in the second, a less than seven-minute span, the Wildcats went from an 18-12 lead to a commanding 45-13 edge, totaling a 27-1 run in that span. 

The 'Cats shot 55.2% from the field, its third-best output of the season, and 50% from behind the three-point line, making 11-22 attempts. The team recorded a season-high 26 assists, with CJ Romero leading the way with nine. NMU also outrebounded the Lakers 43-25, leading to a dominant 50-18 points in the paint advantage.

Leading the offensive charge once again was Jacy Weisbrod with 23 points, including a 5-10 clip from three. Addison Pytleski followed with 14 points, recording a 71.4% (5-7) from field goal range and 75% (3-4) from behind the three-point arc. 

Sydney Whitehouse (13) and Madison Schroeder (12) each found double figures, with Whitehouse leading the team with nine rebounds and Schroeder shooting a perfect 5-5. 

The Wildcats are now 23-6 overall and 14-5 in the GLIAC. With Parkside's victory at Michigan Tech, NMU will have to wait until Saturday to find out its GLIAC Tournament quarterfinal opponent. 


How It Happened
The 'Cats opened strongly with a layup from Alysaa Hill and a triple from Addison Pytleski. Sarah Newcomer and Sydney Whitehouse also got in on the Wildcat scoring, setting the early score to 11-5 in favor of NMU. Roosevelt caught some momentum late in the quarter, shrinking the once 10-point lead down to just six (18-12). This was put to an end by Pytleski's second three-pointer of the contest. 

As the clock showed under three seconds left to play, Weisbrod drained a buzzer-beater from deep for a 16-point lead (28-12) heading into the second quarter. 

Pytleski continued to be a significant leader in the offensive charge, reopening the second with another three. Right behind her, Weisbrod drained a two, followed by a triple from beyond the arc to give the Wildcats a 23-point lead (36-13). Whitehouse then delivered seven quick points for the 'Cats, off two layups and a three-pointer. From an assist by CJ Romero, Whitehouse found the net once more, recording a layup for 11 points. 

Going into the half, NMU led 56-20.

Out of the break, the Lakers recorded the first 16 points of the quarter, keeping the Wildcats scoreless for over six minutes. Pytleski drove to the net, getting an and-one opportunity for the team's first points of the match (59-36). Madison Schroeder followed in suit, draining her and-one shot for three more Wildcat points. 

In a momentum shift, largely led by Schroeder, she tallied four more points off two layups. Despite a 23-point showing from Roosevelt in the quarter, the Wildcats continued to hold control of the lead moving into the last 10 minutes of play (66-43).

Weisbrod made a layup paired with two three-pointers, making a big presence in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats continued to grow on the lead, setting a 29-point differential with just four minutes left to play. Faith Walder had two big drives to the basket, resulting in five points (84-53). 

The 'Cats continued to put the pressure on all the way until the final buzzer, seeing a corner three from Schroeder with less than a minute remaining. NMU came out on top, with the final score 89-58. 


Up Next
NMU will return on Saturday, February 26, at 1 p.m. to face the Parkside Rangers. This will be Senior Day for the 'Cats, celebrating the group of five seniors.