Nov 7, 2025
Northern Michigan University’s Jacy Weisbrod, right, is guarded by Saginaw Valley State’s Lydia Meredith during their GLIAC game played at Vandament Arena in Marquette on Jan. 18. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)
MARQUETTE — Start the countdown as the women’s basketball team at Northern Michigan University rockets off the launching pad for its season opener late this afternoon in Pennsylvania.
The Wildcats begin a quest for their third straight berth into the NCAA Division II national tournament — and third straight year with a win in that event — with a trio of games this weekend at the Conference Commissioners Association Division 2 Tip-Off Classic in Erie and nearby Edinboro in the northwestern part of the Keystone State.
NMU plays California University of Pennsylvania at 5 p.m. today, then takes on cohost Gannon, a former member of Northern’s conference, at 7 p.m. Saturday, and another cohost, Edinboro, at 4 p.m. Sunday.
Today’s and Sunday’s games will be played in Edinboro and Saturday’s in Erie as eight schools in all are converging for the season-opening event.
Fans can follow @NMU_WBBall on Instagram and @NMU_Wildcats on X (formerly Twitter) for updates leading up to and during games, or visit the NMU athletics website at nmuwildcats.com and look under the women’s basketball schedule for links to live video, live statistics and a preview.
“We are going in focused on us and making sure we are doing things the way we want to do them,” Northern head coach Casey Thousand said in an NMU Sports Information news release previewing the season and this weekend’s games. “We have to be adaptable, and we will lean on our seniors to know what we want.”
After two more road games to be played in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, the following weekend, the Wildcats open their home season at Vandament Arena by hosting St. Cloud State (Minnesota) at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 20. The following day, Northern entertains Minnesota-Duluth, also at 5:30 p.m.
NMU was chosen No. 2 in the preseason coaches poll for the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, not bad considering that No. 1 pick Grand Valley State is coming off a national championship and is expected to be strong again this season.
In fact, the Lakers were a unanimous pick to win the league, garnering 10 of the 11 first-place votes as coaches vote for every team but their own. Third-place choice Ferris State got the other first-place vote, which would’ve been the vote from GVSU head man Mike Williams, a former assistant at Michigan and Michigan Tech and ex-head coach at Hancock and Ironwood high schools.
MTU was chosen sixth in the 11-team GLIAC, while Lake Superior State made it in 10th.
Northern’s team expects to have plenty of momentum after posting a 23-9 record last season, tying for the most wins in a season for the program since 2000-01, and finishing 15-5 in the conference, good for second place by two games over Ferris, Wayne State and Wisconsin-Parkside.
GVSU was 19-1 in league last year and 38-2 overall, winning its final 13 games that included the GLIAC and NCAA tournaments.
Thousand, in her fourth year as NMU head coach, is 60-32 overall, a .652 winning percentage, and 38-18 in the GLIAC, an even better .679.
Returning are a whole host of seniors — this fall’s Preseason GLIAC First Team selection Jacy Weisbrod, along with Sarah Newcomer, Alyssa Hill and CJ Romero — along with sophomore Sydney Whitehouse. Hill fit in seamlessly upon transferring a year ago from Bemidji State after a stellar high school career at Negaunee.
Five newcomers — not related to Sarah Newcomer — join the veterans with four freshmen and a transfer.
Last season, Weisbrod was named to the GLIAC First Team and Division 2 CCA All-Midwest Region Second Team as she averaged 13.4 points per game and leading the league in 3-pointers, also ranking sixth in the nation.
Newcomer had averages of 8.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists and earned a spot on the GLIAC Second Team.
Looking at the opening opponents, California was 16-12 overall and 12-8 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference last season, but also won D-II national titles in 2004 and 2015. Alicia Young leads the Vulcans at 12.7 ppg.
Gannon, another PSAC squad, was top notch and made the national tourney with 28-7 and 16-4 records last year, averaging 68.7 ppg as a team and only allowing 56.8 ppg. Key returnees are Bri Claxon, who scored at a 15.1 ppg clip, and Kate Ratliff at 14.1 ppg.
Edinboro, a third PSAC team, actually beat out Gannon in their league at 17-3 while going 25-7 overall. The Fighting Scots scored 72.9 ppg and allowed just 61.4 ppg, making 45% from the floor, 32% on 3s and 78% of their free throws. But Edinboro has lost its top four scorers from a year ago, though is still expected to emphasize a high-energy style.
Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release previewing the season. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.
Today NMU events Volleyball: vs. Ferris State, Vandament Arena, 4 p.m. Hockey: at Michigan Tech, at Houghton, …
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