Rise to the stratosphere
Only nat’l champ Grand Valley keeps NMU women’s hoops from pick atop GLIAC
Northern Michigan University head coach Casey Thousand, center in dark green, talks to her Wildcats during a timeout in a college women’s basketball game played against Northwood at Vandament Arena in Marquette on Dec. 17. (Photo courtesy of Cara Kamps)
Northern Michigan University’s Sydney Whitehouse, center, reacts to sinking a 2-point shot just before the end of the third quarter during a GLIAC Tournament quarterfinal women’s basketball game played against Michigan Tech at Vandament Arena in Marquette on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)
Northern Michigan University head coach Casey Thousand, center in dark green, talks to her Wildcats during a timeout in a college women’s basketball game played against Northwood at Vandament Arena in Marquette on Dec. 17. (Photo courtesy of Cara Kamps)
Northern Michigan University’s Sydney Whitehouse, center, reacts to sinking a 2-point shot just before the end of the third quarter during a GLIAC Tournament quarterfinal women’s basketball game played against Michigan Tech at Vandament Arena in Marquette on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)
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MARQUETTE -- Coaches have faith the women's basketball team at Northern Michigan University will make even more progress this season in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
After a close fourth-place finish last season, this year's Wildcats have been predicted to finish second in the preseason coaches poll.
Coaches vote for all teams but their own, meaning a "true" unanimous champion isn't possible.
But Grand Valley State, which has won the past two NCAA Division II national championships and last season finished at 36-1 overall and 19-1 in the GLIAC, is as close as anyone can come.
The Lakers received 10 of the 11 first-place votes -- the 11th vote by GVSU's Mike Williams had to go to someone other than his own team -- and was apparently cast for No. 3 pick Wisconsin-Parkside.
Grand Valley earned a perfect 100 voting points, while NMU earned 84. Parkside got that other first-place tally and 76 points for third, just one point ahead of No. 4 pick Ferris State with 75.
Then comes Wayne State in fifth with 68, Roosevelt sixth with 53 and Michigan Tech seventh with 49.
There's a big dropoff to Davenport in eighth with 31 points, Lake Superior State ninth with 29, Saginaw Valley State 10th with 24 and Purdue Northwest 11th with 16.
Last year's actual order was GVSU in first, Ferris and Wayne State tied for second and NMU fourth. Then there was a five-game dropoff to MTU in fifth; Parkside sixth; Roosevelt seventh; LSSU, Davenport and SVSU all tied for eighth; and finally, Purdue NW in 11th.
Northern head coach Casey Thousand, who despite her name is actually in her fifth season, has led the Wildcats to an 85-40 record (.680 winning percentage), including an even better 53-23 (.697) in the GLIAC, in her first four years.
While losing four starters from last season's 25-8 campaign, the coach has nine players back to go with six freshmen and a transfer.
Attempting to reach the NCAA Division II tournament for the fourth straight season, Northern begins at the Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association Tip-Off Challenge in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, next week.
The Wildcats open against Central Missouri at 12:15 p.m. EDT Friday, then play Truman State (Missouri) at 2:30 p.m. EDT next Saturday, and Minnesota State-Mankato at 2:30 p.m. EST on Sunday, Nov. 1.
Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release reviewing the poll. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee's email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.