Northern Michigan University’s Mackenzie Holzwart, front, drives to the basket during a GLIAC women’s game played against Wisconsin-Parkside at Vandament Arena in Marquette on Dec. 7. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

MARQUETTE — The holidays likely came at a perfect time for the Northern Michigan University women’s basketball team.

Not only did the formerly nationally ranked Wildcats lose their only two games of the season just before Christmas after an 8-0 start, but NMU has needed time to prepare for the No. 1 team in the nation on Saturday.

Despite road losses of 68-50 at Northwood on Dec. 20 and 84-62 at No. 21 Ashland on Dec. 22, Northern has a nifty 8-2 record, including 2-0 in the GLIAC.

Grand Valley State (12-1, 2-0 GLIAC) is the biggest obstacle standing in the way of keeping the Wildcats’ conference record perfect with their game at 1 p.m. Saturday in Allendale. Before that, NMU plays in Grand Rapids against Davenport (3-7, 1-1) at 5:30 p.m. today.

Both games will be broadcast on radio station WUPT 100.3 FM The Point, while fans can also follow @NMU_WBBall and @NMU_Wildcats on X (formerly Twitter) for updates leading up to and during games. Or visit the NMU athletics website at nmuwildcats.com and look under the women’s basketball schedule for links to live video, live statistics, game previews and series histories.

Northern continues to receive votes in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association national poll, statistically ranking in the top 20 in several categories — 13th with 12.9 turnovers per game, 14th with 30.2 defensive rebounds per game and 19th with a 1.12 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Jacy Weisbrod is the fifth-most prolific scorer in the GLIAC at 15.5 points per game, scoring in double figures and making multiple 3-pointers in all but two games. She leads the conference with 3.2 triples a game, which is also ninth in the country.

Teammate Sarah Newcomer — who despite her name is now a seasoned veteran — is next in NMU scoring at 9.5 ppg and ranks fourth in the league with 3.4 assists a contest and is second with a 2.0 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Rebounding-wise, Alyssa Nimz is eighth in the GLIAC at 7.4 per game, while Alyssa Hill is 11th at 6.3.

Davenport, meanwhile, is 2-2 at home with its most recent game a 79-61 victory over McKendree. The Panthers average 59.2 ppg and shoot 39% from the field.

Ellie Toney leads their offense at 14.3 ppg and also top rebounders with 7.8 a contest.

NMU is 14-3 all-time vs. Davenport dating back to 2011-12, including six wins in a row with a 73-47 triumph in Grand Rapids last season.

The challenge that is Grand Valley might look even more daunting considering that the Lakers’ only loss is to NCAA Division I and Big 10 member Ohio State. Most recently, the Lakers blitzed Northwood 76-45 on Dec. 22, two days before the Wildcats lost by 18 points to the Timberwolves.

Keys are these national top-10 categories — third with a plus-29.4-point scoring margin, sixth with 18.5 assists a game, seventh with a plus-8.77 turnover margin and eighth with 51.2 ppg defense.

They also average 80.5 ppg while shooting 46% from the floor.

Ryle Bisballe at 12.8 ppg leads GVSU scorers and is its only player even averaging 20 minutes court time per 40-minute game. Ten Lakers average at least 2.5 rebounds, while 10 also contribute at least one assist.

All-time, Grand Valley leads NMU 64-42, winning 12 straight including victories in the GLIAC Tournament finals and NCAA Division II Midwest Region semifinals last season.

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