Whitehouse sets career high with 21 points
MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan Wildcats handled the Purdue Northwest Pride 94-54 on Thursday night at Vandament Arena.
Northern controlled the glass in historic fashion, outrebounding the Pride 53-22. It is their largest rebound margin since Nov. 25, 2012, when they also outrebounded Urbana by 31.
The Green and Gold had its best shooting performance of the season, going 36-69 (52.2%) overall. Northern had nearly an identical shooting mark in every quarter, going 9-17 in all but the third frame, where they went 9-18. NMU also knocked down 10 threes, the eighth time they hit that mark this season.
Sydney Whitehouse scored a career-high 21 points, shooting 9-13 (69.2%) from the floor. Jacy Weisbrod also scored 21 points, knocking down 6-10 attempts from three. She is now eight triples shy of tying the program career record. Alyssa Hill added a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double, achieving that feat in just 18 minutes of action.
The Wildcats led for the full four quarters, with the lead being as big as 46 points. All 14 dressed members of the Wildcat team saw minutes on the court. The Wildcats are now 7-2 in conference play and 16-3 overall.
How It Happened
The Wildcats opened play on a 9-0 run and gained a quick 12-2 lead over the Pride less than four minutes in, coming from a pair of three-pointers from Jacy Weisbrod as well as two layups from Alyssa Hill. PNW closed the point gap down to a six-point difference before Jordyn Schmittdiel, last week’s GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week, and Sydney Whitehouse each netted four points apiece (20-11). Ending the first quarter was CJ Romero, as she drained a three, setting the score to 25-15 entering the second.
Addison Pytleski connected from beyond the three-point arc to open the second. Despite efforts from the Pride, the Wildcats continued to apply pressure, keeping the score at a 10-point edge. Romero and Weisbrod recorded back-to-back triples, setting the score to 40-26. The Wildcats continued to answer all Pride points with six different Wildcat players getting in on the scoring in the quarter.
After outscoring Purdue Northwest 22-17 in the second, the ‘Cats entered halftime leading 47-32. Northern shot over 50%, 9-17, in each of the first two quarters.
Hill recorded two quick layups early in the third quarter, giving her a double-double. Newcomer and Romero added buckets as NMU extended its lead to 55-37. The ‘Cats recorded nine unanswered points, with six of them coming off Pride fouls. This run allowed them to expand their lead to 72-44 after three. In the third quarter, the Wildcats put up 25 points and recorded 18 total rebounds to the Pride’s four.
Continuing to hold control of the game, the Wildcats began the final quarter of play with a 16-0 run. These came on threes by Weisbrod and Haddie Showen, along with field goals from Hill and Pytleski. Whitehouse recorded back-to-back layups, putting the Wildcat score to 86. The Pride remained scoreless in the fourth quarter until the clock showed just four minutes left to play (88-45). Faith Walder continued the Wildcat scoring efforts, netting two layups and a jumper for six points. The final score showed 94-54.
Up Next
The ‘Cats are set to return to Vandament Arena on Saturday, January 24 at 1 p.m. to face the Warriors of Wayne State. The Warriors’ overall record is 13-4 and 8-1 in conference play. Wayne State defeated Michigan Tech in a close match ending in a final score of 85-80 on Thursday.
