Northern Michigan University's Faith Walder puts up a shot in front of the Wildcats' bench during a game played earlier this season. (Photo courtesy NMU)

MARQUETTE — The women’s basketball team at Northern Michigan University is picking the perfect time to open its home season with games at Vandament Arena this afternoon and Friday afternoon.

The nationally ranked Wildcats — they’re No. 15 in the latest Women’s Basketball Coaches Association poll — are a perfect 5-0 after winning a pair of neutral-site games in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, last weekend, pummeling Upper Iowa 95-40 on Friday and holding off Lewis 66-54 on Saturday.

Today’s 5:30 p.m. game opens the home schedule against St. Cloud State (Minnesota), with another 5:30 p.m. game Friday vs. Minnesota-Duluth.

They follow a three-game sweep at the CCA Tip-Off Classic in Pennsylvania to begin the season from Nov. 7-9.

Last weekend, Jacy Weisbrod led NMU scorers vs. Upper Iowa with 22 points, while Madison Schroeder had 10 as Northern head coach Casey Thousand was able to empty her bench, all 15 players scoring and no one playing more than 20 minutes.

In a much closer game vs. Lewis, Sarah Newcomer scored 16 points to lead three Wildcats reaching double figures, Weisbrod adding 14. Known for her 3-point shooting prowess, Weisbrod combined to make 10 of the long-range shots in the two games.

Fans can follow @NMU_WBBall on Instagram and @NMU_Wildcats on X (formerly Twitter) for updates leading up to and during games, and for fans who can’t make the games, listen to them on Marquette radio station WUPT 100.3 FM The Point, 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 previews.

“We are really excited to be in Vandament again,” Thousand said in an NMU Sports Information preview of these games. “Both of these teams are tough; they are going to be big and strong, and our team defense is going to be huge.”

NMU is averaging 70.4 points over the first five games, only allowing 51.8 ppg.

Weisbrod is at 17.4 ppg, Negaunee High School graduate Alyssa Hill second at 9.2 ppg, followed by Sydney Whitehouse, Addison Pytleski and Ava Bates all averaging in the range of 7.0 to 7.5 ppg.

CJ Romero leads the team with 21 assists, Hill has 44 rebounds and Whitehouse five blocked shots, each of those numbers double or nearly double of anyone else on the team.

Looking at this weekend’s opponents, Northern defeated St. Cloud 63-52 last season and took down Duluth 65-63 a year ago.

St. Cloud is 2-0 this season after beating Washburn and Central Oklahoma with Jada Eggebrecht the leading scorer at 17.0 ppg and Alana Zarneke at 15.5 ppg.

Duluth is 1-1 with a win over Southeastern Oklahoma State as Claire Bjorge averages 14.0 ppg.

The Wildcats being No. 15 in the polls is their highest ranking since the 1997-98 season, when NMU reached as high as No. 3 during a run to the NCAA Division II semifinals.

The most impressive of Northern’s victories this fall was a 60-58 win over No. 5 Gannon at the CCA Tip-Off.

Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release previewing the games. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.