CJ Romero scores career-high 15 points for Wildcats
MARQUETTE, Mich. – In a big GLIAC contest in the Upper Peninsula, Wildcat fans packed the Vandament Area to see their Northern Michigan Wildcats face rival Michigan Tech. The Wildcats came out on top after a four-quarter battle, 68-57.
MTU led 19-12 after one and 38-32 at halftime. Despite the Huskies holding control for most of the contest, the Wildcats took control late in the third quarter. Northern outscored the Huskies 19-9 in that frame, including the last eight with a buzzer-beater three from Jacy Weisbrod to lead 51-47 heading to the fourth, where they’d again outscore Tech 17-10.
The Huskies tied the game once in the final 10 minutes and pulled within one possession two other times, but Northern never let them get the lead back. The Wildcats would score the final nine points over the last two minutes to put the game on ice.
The ‘Cats out-rebounded the Huskies 19-6 in their offensive ends, leading to an advantage in key second-chance points. Alyssa Hill tallied 10 total rebounds on the day to lead the Wildcats in the category, 42-35.
Jacy Weisbrod led NMU in points with 16, and CJ Romero was right behind her with 15 points to go along with six boards and five assists. Addison Pytleski also found double figures with 11, while Michigan Tech was led by Soraya Timms with a game-high 17.
The Wildcats are now 13-4 in the GLIAC and 22-5 overall. The Huskies fell to 15-10, 9-8.
How It Happened
Michigan Tech got on the board first, followed by both teams having multiple scoreless possessions. This continued until Addison Pytleski drained a three, opening the Wildcat scoring.
Weisbrod followed in suit, adding two of her own. With just four minutes left in the opening quarter, the teams were tied at seven apiece. The Huskies went on a scoring spree, scoring eight unanswered points. Off a powerful defensive rebound from Jordan Schmittdiel, Sydney Whitehouse added a layup to the score in an attempt to halt the Husky lead. Tech built a double-digit lead, but Wesibrod drained her first three of the game in the final seconds to cut it to 19-12.
Romero got in on the scoring early in the second quarter with a make from the top of the arc, followed by one from Weisbrod. MTU continued to apply the pressure, staying successful from behind the three-point line. However, the Wildcats were able to directly respond to these efforts with triples from Whitehouse, Romero, and Pytleski as the offenses on each side were clicking.
The Huskies were able to maintain their lead, going up by 10 points multiple times in the quarter. Two free throws from Romero brought the Wildcats back within six heading into intermission (38-32).
Returning to play, Romero connected on another from deep. With two quick Tech fouls and a Faith Walder layup, the momentum was in favor of the Wildcats out of the break. The ‘Cats reduced the Husky lead to just two, at 45-43, through physical and intense back-and-forth play.
NMU saw points in the form of a three-pointer from Weisbrod and a make from the foul line by Sarah Newcomer. A deep three from Newcomer, followed by a bucket from Alyssa Hill, gave the ‘Cats the lead for the first time in the contest. Wesibrod then drained a buzzer-beater from the corner, sending NMU into the final ten minutes of play with an advantage of four (51-47).
Walder tripled to get the Wildcat scoring started back up, followed up right away with one of her own from Whitehouse (57-51). After a big defensive stand, Weisbrod added a jumper as NMU continued to hold control of the scoreboard. After being fouled, Pytleski made good on her and-one shot.
Ahead 59-57, the Wildcats would put the game away over the final two minutes with the last nine points. As the Huskies got into late foul trouble, the Wildcats kept the pressure and got to the free-throw line. Romero, Newcomer, and Pytleski were all sent to shoot free throws, adding two points each.
NMU bested the Huskies after four quarters of big efforts on both sides of the ball, with a final score of 68-57.
Up Next
The Wildcats will now travel to Ferris State to face the Bulldogs on Saturday, February 21, at 1:00 p.m. Ferris holds the second spot on the GLIAC standings going into the weekend of play.
