Wesibrod’s 22 points leads Wildcats
MARQUETTE, Mich. – Trailing in the third quarter by 12 points, the Northern Michigan women’s basketball team scored 17 unanswered points and surged to victory with the help of Jacy Weisbrod, as she scored 22 points (16 in the second half) to guide the ‘Cats to victory and move to 8-0.
NMU’s 8-0 start is the best since the 1998-99 season when they started 16-0. Of the 290 teams in Division II, the Wildcats are one of 14 in the country without a blemish thus far, and one of just three in the Midwest (Grand Valley State, McKendree).
To say Saturday’s battle with the Rangers was intense would be an understatement, but the Wildcats never let up. Weisbrod went 8-15 (53.3%) in the field and 3-6 (50%) beyond the three-point arc. Mackenzie Holzwart paced the ‘Cats in assists with five overall to go along with 10 points. Alyssa Nimz was also in double figures with 13 and led the Green and Gold in rebounds with eight.
The Wildcats shot 24-60 (40.0%) from the field compared to the Rangers 40.6% (26-64). Northern one-upped the Rangers in three-pointers 7-17 (41.2%) as Parkside went 6-18 (33.3%). The Wildcats had three more rebounds than the Rangers (38), including a dominant 13-4 edge in the final quarter, and caused the Rangers to have 11 turnovers versus the ‘Cats 10.
Jacy Weisbrod opened up the game with a jumper right outside the paint. With back and forth play, Parkside found a few baskets, but Alyssa Nimz hit a triple to hold the lead, making it 7-4 a few minutes into the game.
The Green and Gold were unable to add points to the board for six minutes in the first quarter, allowing the Rangers to take a slim 12-11 lead into the second quarter.
With the Wildcats trailing, Kayla Tierney drained a three for the ‘Cats to take the lead 16-15. Yet, the Rangers did not let up. UWP’s Sheridan Flauger connected on a three-pointer to regain the lead.
As the first half came to a close in what was as evenly played as you could get, the Wildcats trailed 31-30. Both teams were 12-30 (40%) on the field, the ‘Cats were 4-4 at the foul line and shot 2-6 (33.3%) from three compared to the Rangers who were 3-11 (27.3%).
Weisbrod added the first basket for the ‘Cats out of halftime, but the Rangers would go on a 15-4 run to lead 46-34 with 4:38 left in the third. Trailing by a dozen, the Green and Gold were able to close the gap quickly with a sequence of triples, one from Romero and two from Weisbrod. NMU pulled back within one with a 10-0 run, 48-47, as the third ended.
Kayla Tierney added a three-pointer to open up the fourth quarter, and Nimz and Holzwart added buckets at the rim to finalize an extended 17-0 run. The ‘Cats led 54-48 with eight minutes to play.
The Wildcats’ defense stayed locked in down the stretch, allowing the offense to maintain an eight-point lead with under two minutes remaining. Just as you thought the game couldn’t get any better, Weisbrod hit the dagger, making the score 68-56 with 100 seconds left.
Northern got stops when needed in the final minutes and converted at the charity stripe to hold on for the thrilling win.
Up Next
The undefeated Wildcats will take a break from GLIAC play and head downstate to face Northwood and Ashland the weekend before Christmas.
