Story, photo courtesy of NMU Sports Information. Click the AUDIO button to hear RRN's Casey Ford interview Coach Casey Thousand. Also click to see RRN video highlights.
MARQUETTE, Mich. – Opening the final weekend of regular season play, the Wildcats handled business against the Roosevelt Lakers on Thursday evening with a wire-to-wire 89-58 victory.
Northern put together several sizable runs during the game, but none greater than the one to close the first and open the second. Between 2:20 left in the opening frame and 5:30 remaining in the second, a less than seven-minute span, the Wildcats went from an 18-12 lead to a commanding 45-13 edge, totaling a 27-1 run in that span.
The 'Cats shot 55.2% from the field, its third-best output of the season, and 50% from behind the three-point line, making 11-22 attempts. The team recorded a season-high 26 assists, with CJ Romero leading the way with nine. NMU also outrebounded the Lakers 43-25, leading to a dominant 50-18 points in the paint advantage.
Leading the offensive charge once again was Jacy Weisbrod with 23 points, including a 5-10 clip from three. Addison Pytleski followed with 14 points, recording a 71.4% (5-7) from field goal range and 75% (3-4) from behind the three-point arc.
Sydney Whitehouse (13) and Madison Schroeder (12) each found double figures, with Whitehouse leading the team with nine rebounds and Schroeder shooting a perfect 5-5.
NMU will return on Saturday, February 26, at 1 p.m. to face the Parkside Rangers. This will be Senior Day for the 'Cats, celebrating the group of five seniors.
The Wildcats are now 23-6 overall and 14-5 in the GLIAC. With Parkside's victory at Michigan Tech, NMU will have to wait until Saturday to find out its GLIAC Tournament quarterfinal opponent.
