Northern Michigan University’s Kayla Tierney left, drives the baseline against Davenport defender Hannah Schroeder during their GLIAC women’s basketball game played at Vandament Arena in Marquette on Feb. 1. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

MARQUETTE — The Northern Michigan University women’s basketball team has positioned itself to finish quite highly in the GLIAC after winning a pair of road games last week.

The work is far from over, however, as the Wildcats still have a half-dozen games to go in the conference, including a Saturday matchup against the team they’re tied with in Northern’s final home game of the regular season.

NMU is 16-6 overall and 10-4 in the GLIAC, good for a tie for second place with Ferris, also 10-4 in league while 16-7 overall.

Before facing the Bulldogs, Northern takes on last-place Lake Superior State (5-17, 2-12) at 5:30 p.m. today at Vandament. The Ferris game is set for 1 p.m. Saturday.

Last week, NMU won 69-59 at Saginaw Valley State and 66-61 at Wayne State to build a three-game winning streak.

Fans can watch both of this week’s games online at the FloSports app or listen on radio station WUPT 100.3 FM The Point. Or 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, live statistics, ticket information, and a preview, the program and team histories.

Saturday’s game will also be Senior Day and Play4Kay fundraising day.

“The GLIAC doesn’t stop,” NMU head coach Casey Thousand said about this week’s action. “It’s a fun week to celebrate our seniors but also to hopefully get two more home wins.”

Across the league on Saturday, teams will help raise funds for life-saving cancer research, expanding access to quality cancer care for under-resourced programs and uniting communities in the fight against all cancers affecting women.

In 2024, the GLIAC’s Play4Kay fundraiser had tremendous success, raising over $6,000 for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund — a campaign that was recognized as a finalist for the NCAA Division II Award of Excellence spearheaded by former Purdue Northwest women’s basketball coach Courtney Locke and former GLIAC intern Stasha Warchock.

This year, the conference and its member institutions are setting an even bigger goal — raising $10,000 to continue the fight against cancer.

At the game, fans can register to win a gift basket, contribute to donation bucket and hear from cancer survivors.

To donate directly to the Play4Kay initiative or to learn more, please visit the Play4Kay Page on the GLIAC website, gliac.org.

NMU, which has clinched a GLIAC Tournament berth, now looks to secure a top-four position for home court in the opening-round quarterfinals of that event.

Northern continues to rank in the top 50 nationally in multiple stats — 27th with 29.0 defensive rebounds per game, 37th with a 1.02 assist-to-turnover ratio, 42nd fewest with 14.8 fouls per game, 45th fewest with 14.2 turnovers per game and 48th fewest with 58.4 points per game for its opponents.

Jacy Weisbrod is coming off her second GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week honor after averaging 17.5 points on 13 of 24 (54.2%) shooting. She is seventh in the conference and leads the ‘Cats, averaging 13.7 ppg.

Weisbrod has been the most lethal threat across the conference from beyond the arc, as her 2.78 made 3-pointers per game puts her 11th in the nation.

Sarah Newcomer at 9.2 ppg is second on the team in scoring, ranking 11th in the conference with 2.8 assists per game as teammate CJ Romero is just ahead of her in 10th at 2.9.

Alyssa Nimz is third on the team in scoring at 8.6 ppg while also ninth in the league averaging 6.9 rebounds each outing.

NMU’s defense has been a key to this season’s success, as its 58.4 ppg allowed is second fewest to national No. 1 and GLIAC leader Grand Valley State. The Wildcats also allow opponents to shoot only 27.8% on triples, also second best in the GLIAC.

Lake State, which is actually tied with Purdue Northwest for the league’s bottom spot, fell at GVSU 83-41 and at Davenport 64-44 last week to extend its losing string to nine games.

LSSU scores just 53.7 ppg while allowing 73.2 ppg, making 35.5% from the field and 27.8% on 3s.

Grace Bedford leads the Lakers at 15.0 ppg and 9.2 rebounds per contest, making 79.8% on free throws. Breah Gordon is second in scoring at 12.1 ppg.

NMU is 69-38 all-time vs. Lake State, including winning nine in a row, most recently a 75-37 win at Sault Ste. Marie on Jan. 25.

Ferris could prove quite a challenge as the Bulldogs are 6-2 on the road, splitting last week with an 87-50 win at Davenport and 78-57 loss at Grand Valley.

The Bulldogs average 77.4 ppg, good for No. 2 in the GLIAC and 13th in the country. Ferris is also third in the nation in 3-pointers per game with 9.4, fourth in free throws at 79.8%, fifth in assists per game with 18.3, seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.27 and ninth in 3-pointers attempted each game with 27.0.

Junior Mia Riley leads FSU in scoring at 14.3 ppg and is fourth in the league and 44th nationally with 84.8% made on free throws.

NMU is 55-38 all-time vs. Ferris, winning 78-48 at Ferris on Jan. 23.

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.