Northern Michigan University’s Addison Pytleski, right, drives toward the basket while being closed guarded by Saginaw Valley State’s Lydia Meredith, center, during their GLIAC women’s basketball game played at Vandament Arena in Marquette on Jan. 18. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

MARQUETTE — Despite a pair of dominating performances last week, the Northern Michigan University women’s basketball team is a decided underdog in its home game late this afternoon.

That’s because the Wildcats will host national No. 1 Grand Valley State at 5:30 p.m. at Vandament Arena. They also host last-place Davenport at noon Saturday.

NMU is riding high after winning at GLIAC second-place Ferris State 78-48 last Thursday, then following it up with a 75-37 drubbing of Lake Superior State two days later.

It left Northern in third place alone in the league at 7-3, 13-5 overall. Ferris is a game ahead of NMU at 8-2, but everyone is chasing Grand Valley, which is a perfect 10-0 in the conference and near-perfect 20-1 overall while working on a nine-game winning streak.

On the other side, Davenport is in a three-way tie for the bottom of the league at 2-8, 4-14 overall.

Both games can be watched on the FloSports app and are available on radio station WUPT 100.3 FM The Point.

Or fans can 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 audio, live statistics, ticket information, the weekend program, game previews and series histories.

“If we can make shots and continue our momentum, it’s going to be a crazy game,” NMU head coach Casey Thousand said about today’s game in an NMU Sports Information news release previewing the upcoming contests.

The Wildcats rank inside the top 30 in the nation in several statistics — 24th with a 1.10 assist-to-turnover ratio, 25th with 29.2 defensive rebounds per game, 26th lowest with 14.3 fouls per game and 27th least with 13.7 turnovers per game.

Jacy Weisbrod is eighth in GLIAC scoring, averaging 13.5 points per game. Her 2.86 made 3-pointers per game puts her 11th in the nation.

Sarah Newcomer (9.3 ppg) is second on the team in scoring, while she is eighth in the league with 3.1 assists per game and second with a 1.9 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Alyssa Nimz is third in team scoring with 9.2 ppg and also eighth in the conference with 6.9 rebounds each outing.

NMU’s defense has been a key to success, as its 58.3 ppg allowed is second fewest to Grand Valley. The Wildcats also allow opponents to shoot only 27% from 3, leading the league.

Grand Valley, however, is 10-1 away from home, its only loss to NCAA Division I and Big 10 member Ohio State in December, 82-57. Last weekend, the Lakers dumped Wisconsin-Parkside 72-43 and thumped Purdue Northwest 106-47.

GVSU is No. 1 in numerous league statistics, such as 84.1 ppg for, which is also third in the nation, and 51.9 ppg against, making them eighth in that category in the country. It creates a plus-32.2 ppg margin, second in Division II.

There’s also national top-10 stats like being first with 44.4 bench points per game, second with 19.3 assists a game, third with a 1.33 assist-to-turnover ratio, third with a 46.8% field goal success, fifth with a plus-9.52 turnover margin a game, and ninth with 14.3 steals each time out.

Redshirt senior Rylie Bisballe leads the Lakers in scoring, though it’s only at 12.8 ppg. After her is Abrie Cabana at 9.0 ppg, while Ellie Droste and MacKenzie Bisballe are each at 8.9 ppg. Coming off the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week honor, MacKenzie Bisballe is second in the league with 1.3 blocked shots per game.

NMU is 42-65 against Grand Valley all-time, losing by only 10 points against the Lakers in their latest matchup in Allendale earlier this season, 81-71. NMU has lost the last 14 against GVSU, the last win coming in a 47-38 decision in 2018-19 in Allendale.

By contrast, Davenport averages 57.2 ppg and split a pair of games last week, beating Parkside 57-51 and losing to Purdue NW 69-66.

Ellie Toney paces the Panthers in scoring with 14.0 ppg, while Lillee Gustafson leads the team in rebounds with 7.9 a game.

NMU is 15-3 all-time against Davenport, including winning the past seven. On Jan. 2, Northern prevailed 47-40 in Grand Rapids as Newcomer and Mackenzie Holzwart each scored 12 points for the Wildcats.

Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release previewing the games. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.