Northern Michigan University’s Jacy Weisbrod, right, takes a 3-point shot during a GLIAC women’s basketball game played against Purdue Northwest at Vandament Arena in Marquette on Thursday. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

MARQUETTE — Northern Michigan University’s Jacy Weisbrod has been named the conference Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Wildcats to a pair of home victories last week over foes from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

The 5-foot-10 senior guard from La Crosse, Wisconsin, scored 21 points in both of NMU’s victories over last-place Purdue Northwest and second-place Wayne State.

The win over Wayne State allowed national No. 16 Northern to pull into a second-place tie with the Warriors in the GLIAC, trailing only national No. 1 and undefeated Grand Valley State.

Weisbrod, for several seasons now the most prolific 3-point shooter in the league and generally the most accurate taker of those shots, too, combined to make 11 of 17 triples, a success rate of 65%, over the two games.

That included 5 of 7 in a 91-71 triumph over WSU on Saturday, good for 71% that day.

She also made two rebounds and two steals vs. Purdue NW in that 94-54 win and five rebounds, three assists, two blocked shots and a steal against Wayne State.

This was Weisbrod’s second player of the week honor this season from the league.

In statistics for all games, she is the No. 1 scorer in the league at 17.3 points per game, more than a full point ahead of all other players, and makes 3.6 treys each time out, more than one full 3-pointer ahead of all others. And she hits on 43.1% of her 3-point tries, second only to Wayne State’s McKenna Ferguson at 45.9%.

Actually, her 3-pointers made per game ranks her No. 1 in NCAA Division II, as does her 67 total 3s made.

Additionally, Weisbrod’s overall field goal percentage is No. 5 in the GLIAC at 44.9% despite her taking way more 3-point attempts than any other high-percentage shooter, and her 1.3 steals per game rank her 20th in the league.

That sharpshooting prowess will be put to the test on the road Thursday afternoon in Allendale, when the Wildcats play at No. 1 Grand Valley at 5:30 p.m.

The Lakers are not only the top scoring defense in the conference at 53.9 ppg — NMU is second at 60.9 ppg — but GVSU is No. 2 in 3-point defense, allowing 27.5% made.

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