SEVEN UP, SEVEN DOWN: Wildcats Stop Pride

This story was written by NMU Sports Information. Click the AUDIO button to hear RRN's Casey Ford interview Wildcat Coach Casey Thousand.

MARQUETTE, Mich. - For the first time in 25 years, the Northern Michigan women's basketball team is 7-0, handling the Purdue Northwest Pride 70-48 to open up GLIAC play on Thursday.

A snow day for Northern Michigan University proved nothing against the 'Cats as they held the lead for nearly the entire game, leading by as many as 26. The Wildcats showcased the helping hand during the season of giving, as they recorded a season-high 22 assists on 26 made field goals.

NMU shot 26-67 (38.8%) from the field while holding the Pride to a season opponent-low 14 made field goals, 26.4% shooting from the floor, and 23.1% shooting from beyond the arc. NMU led in rebounds 49-35, holding a 13-5 edge on the offensive glass.

It was an all-around balanced attack for the Green and Gold as all 10 'Cats that played 10+ minutes recorded at least four shots with no one shooting more than 10. Alyssa Hill tied a season-high and paced NMU with 13 points. Jacy Weisbrod followed with 11 and seven others scored at least five. Sarah Newcomer paced the 'Cats in assists with five and Alyssa Nimz led the Wildcats with seven rebounds.

The Pride started off the game making each of its first two shots and led 4-2 early on. Both teams went scoreless for two and a half minutes, but Addison Pytleski hit a triple to end a stretch of five straight misses for NMU. The Pride would miss eight straight shots after its 4-2 lead and NMU would take advantage, scoring 11 straight to help lead 23-10 after the first.

Northern converted on eight FG's from seven players in the first 10 minutes, while forcing PNW into six turnovers.

The 'Cats started the second building on its success in the first, scoring 10 of the first 11 to lead 33-11 with 5:45 before halftime. The Pride would score eight straight to close a 24-point gap to 16, but Jacy Weisbrod rained in a pair of triples ahead of the half to give the Wildcats a 43-23 advantage at the break.

It was a first half of balance for NMU, as all 10 players had a shot attempt with nine of those recording between 3-6 shots. Eight would score in the opening 20 minutes, with six notching multiple field goals. PNW committed 12 first half turnovers to just seven made FG's. The 'Cats assisted on 13 of 16 made shots.

Back-to-back layups early in the second half from Hill gave NMU its largest lead of the night, 49-23, with 6:38 to go in the third. Weisbrod and Sydney Whitehouse would each can triples before the end of the frame to give the Wildcats a comfortable 61-35 lead heading to the final quarter.

The offenses slowed down in the fourth, as Northern was just 2-11 and PNW shot 2-12. The Pride outscored NMU 13-9 in the quarter, but the comfortable lead Northern built was more than enough for the 70-48 victory.