The Wildcats improved to 7-0 for the first time since the 1999-2000 season by cruising 70-48 past Purdue Northwest at Vandament Arena on Thursday evening.

In the season-opening GLIAC game for each team, Purdue NW slipped to 3-4 as Northern raced to leads of 23-10 after one quarter, 43-23 at halftime and 61-35 following the completion of the third period.

In this season of giving — as relayed by NMU Sports Information — the Wildcats dished out an impressive 22 assists on their 26 baskets. Seven players had multiple assists, led by Sarah Newcomer with five.

Scoring was also balanced for Northern, with nine players putting up at least five points, led by Negaunee High School product Alyssa Hill scoring 13 points as she made 5 of 9 from the field, adding in five rebounds.

Northern Michigan University’s Sarah Newcomer, right, is double-teamed by a pair of Minnesota-Crookston players during their women’s college basketball game played at Vandament Arena in Marquette on Nov. 15. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

Jacy Weisbrod contributed 11 points, hitting three triples to go with six rebounds, while CJ Romero and Alyssa Nimz each scored eight points. Romero hit a pair of treys and made three assists, while Nimz had a team-high seven rebounds.

Ciara Sims came off PNW’s bench to score 13 points, hitting 3 of 5 on 3s, while Alyssa Cole added 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds.

Despite NMU’s decisive advantages at the end of each quarter, the Pride actually had the lead in the first few minutes.

Northern finally went ahead for good with 5:34 left in the first quarter when Addison Pytleski hit a 3-pointer to make it 7-4. That came in the middle of an 11-0 run that gave the ‘Cats a 13-4 advantage with 3:40 to go in the opening period on a Newcomer layup.

The Wildcats pumped their lead up to 20 points by the midpoint of the second quarter, hitting a high-water mark in the first half of 24 points, 37-13, with 3:30 left before halftime on a Hill jumper.

The second half was much the same story. Northern’s lead never fell below 20, hitting 26 points three times in the third quarter, the final time at 61-35 with six seconds left on a Sydney Whitehouse layup.

NMU completes this GLIAC season-opening weekend at home this afternoon when the Wildcats host Wisconsin-Parkside at noon. The Rangers (5-2) dealt Michigan Tech a 79-75 overtime loss on Thursday in Houghton.

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