Northern Michigan University’s Sarah Newcomer, right, drives for the basket while defended by Michigan Tech’s Tessa Leece during their GLIAC game played at the Berry Events Center in Marquette on Saturday. Leece is a Huskies’ senior and Westwood High School graduate. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

MARQUETTE — The Northern Michigan women’s basketball team looks to get back in the hunt for the top spot in the GLIAC after losing to Michigan Tech at home on Saturday.

The Wildcats held their third-place tie in the league after the team they were even with, Wisconsin-Parkside, also lost, but each of those teams fell two games behind league leaders Grand Valley State and Ferris State after Ferris upset GVSU recently.

NMU travels to Big Rapids to take on Ferris at 5:30 p.m. today, then goes to Sault Ste. Marie to face Lake Superior State at 1 p.m. Saturday.

“We battled with (Ferris) when they came up here,” Northern coach Casey Thousand said in an NMU Sports Information release previewing this week’s games. “Everyone has to step up, they are playing better and they are playing well.

“Lake State is another GLIAC challenge and we have to show up for both games and play hard.”

Ferris is ranked No. 7 in NCAA Division II with a 14-2 overall and 8-1 GLIAC record. Lake State resides in the conference basement at 1-17 and 0-9.

On Saturday, the Wildcats couldn’t corral hot-shooting Michigan Tech and fell behind 27-12 early before losing 71-58 at the Berry Events Center as the Huskies prevailed for the 14th straight time in their Upper Peninsula series.

NMU hangs its hat on taking care of the ball, leading the league in fewest turnovers at 11.7 per game, also third in the country, and also on rebounding, where the Wildcats’ plus-7.1 margin is second in the GLIAC.

And Northern shoots free throws pretty well, too, making 76.2% to rank third in the league.

NMU is also 15th in the nation in its 1.16-assist-to-turnover ratio.

The Wildcats’ Makaylee Kuhn is first in conference scoring at 16.9 points per game and fourth in rebounding at 6.9 per contest.

She’s made 80.2% of her free throws (77 of 96), seventh in the GLIAC, as she’s a three-time All-GLIAC First Teamer and was named to this season’s Preseason First Team.

Teammate Mackenzie Holzwart is averaging 7.2 ppg, 3.7 assists and 5.9 rebounds, while NMU’s Ana Rhude ranks second in the conference in blocked shots with 24.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.