Northern Michigan University’s CJ Romero, right, congratulates teammate Sarah Newcomer on making a basket during a college women’s basketball game played against Minnesota-Crookston at Vandament Arena in Marquette on Nov. 15. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

MARQUETTE — This afternoon could be “the beginning of a beautiful friendship” for the Northern Michigan University women’s basketball team.

That phrase from the classic movie “Casablanca” could apply to the Wildcats as they open a four-game homestand by hosting heated Upper Peninsula rival Michigan Tech at 5:30 p.m. today at Vandament Arena.

NMU is sitting pretty at 9-3 overall and 3-1 in the GLIAC as the four straight home games could keep them close to league frontrunners Grand Valley State and Ferris State, each 4-0 in the conference.

A win today would prevent the visiting Huskies from catching Northern as Tech is 2-2 in league and a modest 5-7 overall.

The game will be telecast on Fox-U.P. and broadcast on radio station WUPT 100.3 FM The Point and also available to watch on the internet at FloHoops.

You can also follow @NMU_WBBall and @NMU_Wildcats on X (formerly Twitter) for updates leading up to and during the game, or visit the NMU athletics website at nmuwildcats.com and look under the women’s basketball schedule for links to live video, live statistics, ticket information, the game program and preview, and a series history.

Jacy Weisbrod missed both games Northern played last week, a 47-40 win at Davenport and 81-71 setback at GVSU, the closest game the Lakers have played against a Division II opponent this season.

Weisbrod is fifth in GLIAC scoring at 15.5 points per game, while her 3-point shooting is both the most prolific and accurate in the league. Her 3.2 makes per game are second nationally.

Sarah Newcomer is second in Wildcats scoring at 9.4 ppg as she’s also seventh in the league with 3.1 assists per game and second with a 1.9 assist-to-turnover ratio.

NMU is second only to Grand Valley in scoring defense at 59.8 ppg, and the Wildcats only allow opponents to make 27.8% on 3-pointers, No. 3 in the conference.

Looking at the Huskies, they average 67.6 ppg and allow 70.1 ppg.

Senior guard Isabella Lenz leads MTU at 15.8 ppg, scoring in double figures every game this season.

Northern is 53-56 all-time vs. the Huskies, ending a 14-game losing skid in their most recent game last season, a 70-45 win in Houghton.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.