Weisbrod pacecs Wildcats with 23 points
UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Northern Michigan women’s basketball team used an 11-0 run in the fourth quarter to pull away from the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals on Thursday night, emerging victorious 69-59.
In a back-and-forth affair that saw each team only manage one run of 6+ points in the first 30 minutes, NMU locked in late, holding the Cardinals scoreless from 6:20 of the fourth until just 1:46 to go, all while rattling off 11 unanswered points to get the road win.
The Green and Gold had its best shooting game of the season, going 25-43 (58.1%) from the field and 10-18 (55.6%) from beyond the arc. It was the only time this season for the ‘Cats, and just the fourth time overall in all GLIAC games, that a team shot over 50% from both the field and from three. Leading the Northern effort was Jacy Weisbrod, pouring in 23 points on 8-13 (61.5%) shooting. Sarah Newcomer also found double figures with 11, while all 10 ‘Cats that played got into the score sheet.
The hot shooting was needed, as NMU committed 21 turnovers in the game, the second-highest total of the year. SVSU committed 15 themselves, but held a 22-10 advantage in points off turnovers. SVSU also led in offensive rebounds 12-3, the main reason the Cardinals put up 19 more shots in the game. NMU’s defense deserves a tip of the cap as even with 19 more shots, the Cardinals made one less shot (24-62, 38.7%).
In her first start since December 22, Weisbrod wasted no time getting things going. She knocked down the game’s first two shots to put NMU in front early. She would go on to reach 10 points in the first frame with two threes.
After hitting buzzer beaters in both the first and second quarters last month in Marquette, the Cardinals hit yet another to close the first quarter, trailing NMU 17-16.
The Wildcats scored the first seven to start the second and led 23-16. NMU made its first four shots of the quarter with Sydney Whitehouse getting to the tin for a pair of layups. Both sides hit a drought as halftime approached, but the ‘Cats maintained a 32-28 edge at the break. NMU shot 13-22 (59.1%) through 20 minutes.
CJ Romero opened the second half scoring with a triple, but the Cardinals then went on a 12-2 run to take its first lead of the night, 40-37. The teams exchanged scoring the rest of the third, with the Wildcats taking a slim 48-47 lead into the last frame.
Tied at 53-53 with less than six minutes left, Whitehouse converted on an and-one, kickstarting NMU’s 11-0 run. She followed with another jumper, Newcomer hit her third three, and Alyssa Nimz added an and-one of her own to push NMU ahead 64-53 with 3:53 to play.
As is the case with all big runs in basketball, the offense was hot while the defense was also stifling. While NMU pulled away, SVSU missed five straight shots with a pair of turnovers over a four and a half minute stretch.
Productive offense and locked in defense late was the recipe to success, as NMU improved to 15-6 overall and 9-4 in GLIAC play. Ferris State and Wayne State both won, so the Wildcats remained a game back of the Bulldogs and tied for third with the Warriors heading into the weekend.
Up Next
The Wildcats will travel to the Motor City for a pivotal matchup between the two teams tied for third place in the league at 9-4. Northern Michigan and Wayne State will take to the court on Saturday, February 8, with tip-off set for 1 p.m.
