Northern Michigan University’s Alyssa Nimz, left, goes up for a shot while defended by Michigan Tech’s Kloe Zentokowski at Vandament Arena in Marquette on Thursday. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

MARQUETTE — The Northern Michigan University women’s basketball team continues a four-game homestand with an unusual Monday GLIAC game today, hosting conference newcomer Roosevelt at 5:30 p.m. at Vandament Arena.

The Wildcats, who have technically fallen into fourth place in the league after being idle on Saturday, are 10-3 overall and 4-1 in the GLIAC. Ferris State and Wisconsin-Parkside are a half-game ahead of NMU at 5-1, while national No. 1 Grand Valley State leads the way at 6-0.

Roosevelt, meanwhile, is competitive in its first year at 2-3 in league, though only 4-7 overall. The Lakers just defeated Michigan Tech 74-57 in Houghton on Saturday afternoon. Northern’s last game was also against the Huskies, a 68-64 victory on Thursday to open the homestand.

The homestand continues later this week with Vandament Arena games against Wayne State at 5:30 p.m. Thursday and Saginaw Valley State at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Today’s game will be broadcast on radio station WUPT 100.3 The Point, and can also be watched online at the FloSports app. Or follow @NMU_WBBall and @NMU_Wildcats on X (formerly Twitter) for updates leading up to and during the game. Fans can also 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 a preview and the series history.

Northern continues to rank in the top 20 nationally in a pair of categories — 11th with 12.7 turnovers per game and 19th with a 1.13 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Junior guard Jacy Weisbrod, who has missed NMU’s last three games, is fourth in scoring in the GLIAC at 15.5 points per game. Her 3.2 3-pointers per game is No. 2 nationally, while that number plus her 36.4% make rate both lead the conference.

Teammates Sarah Newcomer at 9.4 ppg and Alyssa Nimz at 9.1 ppg are next in scoring, while Abi Fraaza had 13 points the last time out vs. Tech in her first game this season.

In the GLIAC, Newcomer ranks seventh with 3.2 assists per game and third with a 1.8 assist-to-turnover ratio. Nimz is sixth at 7.2 rebounds per game while Alyssa Hill, a Negaunee High School graduate, is 12th with 6.1 rebounds each time out.

NMU’s defense has been its calling card, as its 60.1 ppg allowed is second fewest in the league to Grand Valley. The Wildcats also allow opponents to shoot only 28.0% from 3, third-best in the league.

Casey Thousand is in her fourth season guiding the Green and Gold as she is 47-26, a .644 winning percentage, including a 22-10 record last season when NMU made the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time since 2019 and defeated Kentucky Wesleyan to make the round of 32.

Roosevelt, in its first year in Division II, had Jaylie Turchin and Marie Outlay each score 17 points in its signature win at Tech on Saturday, with Outlay adding 12 rebounds.

Outlay and Luka Malinka lead the Lakers in scoring, each at 12.4 ppg, while Turchin is also in double figures at 10.3.

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