Northern Michigan University’s Sydney Whitehouse, right, celebrates with teammate CJ Romero for scoring two points just before the buzzer to end the third quarter during a GLIAC Tournament quarterfinal women’s game played against Michigan Tech at Vandament Arena in Marquette on Wednesday. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

MARQUETTE — The best news was that both the men’s and women’s basketball teams from Northern Michigan University received at-large bids to their respective NCAA Division II tournaments late Sunday evening.

It was a bit eerie that each received a No. 5 seed, meaning they’ll play similar-caliber teams throughout however far their journeys go.

They’ll each be in the Midwest Region, with the women’s tourney kicking things off on Friday and the men’s not beginning until Saturday.

As No. 5’s, each will play a No. 4 seed at the site of the No. 1 seed, then likely would have to face that top-ranked squad a day later in the regional semifinals.

Another win and a Wildcat team would make it to the regional championship tilt two days after that — Monday for the women, Tuesday for the men.

Winning the regional sends teams to the Elite Eight to the national finals site about 10 days after that.

For the women, NMU is making its third straight appearance in the big dance and is also hoping for a win there that would mark three years of doing that, too.

The Wildcats (25-7) face a familiar set of faces to kick things off, taking on No. 4 seed and GLIAC member Wayne State at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Allendale, the site of No. 1 seed Grand Valley State’s gym.

The top-ranked and national No. 2 Lakers play No. 8 Maryville (Mo.), while on the other side of the bracket, GLIAC member and No. 2 Ferris State faces No. 7 Missouri-St. Louis, while ex-GLIAC members No. 3 Northwood and No. 6 Malone also square off in the first round.

Last year, Northern played a pair of ex-GLIAC members, defeating Hillsdale before losing to Ashland.

NMU Sports Information informs fans that they can keep up with the tourney online at ncaa.com/sports/basketball-women/d2.

The NMU men (27-6) were the No. 1 seed in their conference tournament and reached the finals before bowing out, but got the same No. 5 seed as the Wildcat women, who came in to the league tourney No. 4 and lost in the semifinals.

Nevertheless, this Northern squad has made the NCAAs for the fourth straight year and will face No. 4 Rockhurst to kicks things off at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the home of the No. 1 seed, former GLIAC member Walsh in North Canton, Ohio.

A win there likely puts NMU vs. Walsh, which is opening vs. No. 8 William Jewell.

The other half of the bracket includes GLIAC member and No. 2 Grand Valley State vs. No. 7 Ashland, along with another conference team, No. 3 Michigan Tech, squaring off vs. No. 6 Lake Erie, yet another former GLIAC member.

Last year, Northern lost to MTU in an opening-round game in Springfield, Illinois.

NMU SI provides this link for the men’s tourney — ncaa.com/sports/basketball-men/d2.

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