Northern Michigan University’s Jacy Weisbrod, right, cuts toward the basket and would score in the first quarter while defended by Michigan Tech's Alyssa Wypych during their GLIAC Tournament quarterfinal game played at Vandament Arena in Marquette on Wednesday. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

MARQUETTE — Possibly needing a win to continue with its season, the women’s basketball team at Northern Michigan University has a tall task ahead of it in the conference tournament this afternoon.

The Wildcats play Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champion Grand Valley State at 2 p.m. in one semifinal of the GLIAC Tournament at the Lakers’ home gym in Allendale.

NMU came into the tourney as the No. 4 seed, while 28-1 Grand Valley is not only seeded No. 1, but is ranked as the No. 2 team in NCAA Division II.

If the Wildcats don’t get a win today, they would only get into their third consecutive NCAA tournament as the conference’s second, third or fourth entrant, something that while possible would be quite up in the air.

This has all come about despite NMU, nationally ranked at No. 21, compiling a sterling 25-6 record, its most wins since the 1999-2000 season. Already, Northern has won one game in the tourney, a 74-66 victory over No. 5 seed Michigan Tech at the Wildcats’ Vandament Arena on Wednesday.

By the way, the other GLIAC tourney semifinal today pits No. 2 seed Wayne State (23-6) vs. No. 3 Ferris State (25-5) at 4:30 p.m. Today’s winners then square off for the title at 3 p.m. Sunday in Allendale, that champion also getting the league’s automatic berth to the NCAAs.

Today’s game — and Sunday’s if the Wildcats advance — will be streamed on FloCollege and be broadcast by Marquette radio station WUPZ 94.9 FM The Bay, since the men’s tournament semifinal game will be played at the same time and be aired on a sister station.

Sunday’s game, if it comes to be, will likely also be on that station if the NMU men also make their conference championship game, but probably move to WUPT 100.3 FM The Point if only the Northern women are playing that day.

Fans can also follow @NMU_WBBall on Instagram and @NMU_Wildcats on X (formerly Twitter) for updates leading up to and during games, or visit the Northern athletics website at nmuwildcats.com and look under the women’s basketball schedule for links to live video, live statistics and a preview.

While the Wildcats have lost both their games to GVSU this season, 78-66 at home on Jan. 3 and 70-47 in Allendale on Jan. 29, NMU completed a three-game sweep of Tech this season on Wednesday after earlier beating the Huskies 74-46 in Houghton on Jan. 8 and 68-57 in Marquette on Feb. 19.

Wednesday’s win marked the first time ever that Northern has defeated MTU three times in one season.

Sydney Whitehouse came off the bench to score a career-high 25 points in 25 minutes playing time, while Sarah Newcomer surpassed 1,000 career points, joining teammates Jacy Weisbrod and Alyssa Hill, a Negaunee product, in that rather exclusive club.

In the regular season, Weisbrod was the nation’s top 3-point shooter, making 103 triples to lead Division II while her 3.42 per game ranked second. She also leads the conference with 16.8 points per game, while her 40.8% on 3s is third.

Newcomer isn’t that far behind the national leader in 3s, making 75 herself, ranking top 30 in the country in 3s made and shooting percentage of the long-range shot. And her 11.3 ppg is second on the team.

NMU’s CJ Romero has a 2.3 assist-to-turnover ratio, No. 1 in the GLIAC and 12th nationally, with 4.7 assists pe game ranking No. 2 in the league.

That helps the Wildcats with only making 11.9 turnovers per game, third best in the country, and a 1.26 assist-to-turnover ratio, No. 8 ranked.

Hill, meanwhile, is fourth in the GLIAC as she pulls down 7.7 rebounds per game, totaling 29 alone in the team’s past two games.

While Grand Valley flew past No. 8 Lake Superior State 89-45 in its GLIAC quarterfinal game, Wayne State took out No. 7 Roosevelt 75-56 and Ferris eased past No. 6 Wisconsin-Parkside 82-74.

Wayne State, receiving votes in the national poll, split with NMU this season, Northern winning at home 91-71 on Jan. 24 and the Warriors victorious 84-63 in Detroit on Feb. 12.

Ferris, ranked No. 16 nationally, won both matchups with the Wildcats, taking a 70-52 decision in Marquette on Jan. 12 and 80-68 in Big Rapids on Feb. 21.

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.