First road loss for NMU this season
ALLENDALE, Mich. – The No. 12 Northern Michigan Wildcats battled, but fell at No. 1 Grand Valley State 70-47 on Thursday night at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena.
The Wildcats suffered their first road loss this season and snapped a 12-game winning streak on the road dating back to last season.
The Laker defense, one of the best in the nation, caused havoc for NMU throughout the night. The Wildcats finished 14-59 (23.7%), their worst shooting game of the season. The Wildcats also managed just a 3-23 (13.0%) mark from three, including 0-9 in the second half. NMU trailed 42-29 at halftime, but scored just 18 second-half points, shooting 5-30 over the final 20 minutes.
Northern’s defense played well, limiting the Lakers to more than 10 points off their season average and forcing 15 turnovers with nine steals and five blocks.
Sydney Whitehouse led the ‘Cats with 10 points, while the Lakers were paced by Mackenzie Bisballe with 19 points and nine rebounds.
Northern fell to 17-4 overall and 8-3 in the GLIAC with the defeat. GVSU improved to 19-0, 11-0.
How it Happened
Jacy Weisbrod knocked down a three on the opening possession after being held without one in the teams’ earlier meeting this season. Faith Walder followed with a triple of her own two minutes in, giving NMU an early 6-4 edge. The pace settled into a back-and-forth stretch, with the score tied 10-10 midway through the opening quarter. Grand Valley State closed the first with momentum, however, pulling ahead 21-14 after one.
The Lakers carried that energy into the second quarter, scoring the first three points to extend the lead into double digits. GVSU drew several early fouls and consistently got to the free-throw line. Jordyn Schmittdiel provided a spark off the bench with five points and four rebounds, but Grand Valley State maintained control, holding a 28-18 advantage with five minutes remaining before halftime.
An 8-0 run by the Lakers pushed the margin to 36-20, as Northern struggled to find consistency offensively. NMU finished the half just 2-12 from the field down the stretch and went 3-14 from beyond the arc in the opening 20 minutes. C.J. Romero knocked down a late three with 22 seconds left, but the Wildcats still trailed 42-29 at the break.
Both offenses struggled to find a rhythm coming out of halftime. NMU opened the frame 0-11 from the field, with its only points coming at the free-throw line. NMU finally broke through with its first field goal on a jumper from Sarah Newcomer at the 3:47 mark. Despite shooting just 2-15 in the quarter, the ‘Cats limited the damage defensively and was outscored only 13-10 in the frame. Grand Valley State closed the quarter with a three, taking a 55-39 advantage into the fourth.
Another slow start carried into the fourth, but Northern put together a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to 57-45 with six minutes remaining. The push was short-lived, however, as the Lakers responded with the next 11 points, extending the margin to its largest at 23 with under two minutes to play and effectively putting the game away.
Up Next
The Wildcats will look to bounce back on Saturday, Jan. 31, when they take on the Davenport Panthers at 1 p.m.
