JACY GOES OFF! NMU Women Win NCAA Opener
This story was written by NMU Sports Information. Click the AUDIO buttons to hear post-game comments from Jacy Weisbrod and Coach Casey Thosuand.
ALLENDALE, Mich. - Jacy Weisbrod scored a career-high 29 points while tying a single-game program record with nine triples as the Northern Michigan women's basketball team dominated in its first NCAA Tournament game in five years, knocking off Kentucky Wesleyan 69-56.
It was seemingly one three, after another….after another for Weisbrod as her 9-14 mark from beyond the arc tied an all-time program record for a single-game (Amy Boynton vs. Michigan Tech in 1993, Holly Cole vs. Nebraska-Kearney in 2004). It was the third best performance from three-point land across Division II this season.
It only took Jacy 10 seconds of game time to connect on her first, and she would go on to hit three in the opening quarter, another in the second, four more in the third, and a final hoorah in the fourth. Her nine threes tripled up the output for the Panthers, as they struggled to just a 3-25 (12.0%) clip.
It wasn't just Jacy that had it going for the Wildcats, as the team thoroughly controlled the glass 46-22, led by 11 from Ana Rhude, seven of which came on the offensive end. Abi Fraaza also pulled down nine rebounds while collecting 16 points. Her seven field goals marked a season-high. Makaylee Kuhn also had eight boards while four other 'Cats garnered at least three.
Trailing 6-3 early, Northern went on a 15-0 spurt in the first and allowed just one KWC point over the last 6:30 of the frame to lead 18-7 heading to the second. The second was commanded by the post-combo of Rhude and Fraaza, as they seemingly found every missed shot, positioned themselves in the right spot on the low block, and pulled down rebound after rebound and banked in shot after shot. The pair had a dozen first half boards and 16 points, with seven and 11 of those, respectively, coming in the second. NMU was up 36-19 at intermission.
The third flipped back to dominance from Weisbrod, as her four third quarter threes was a single-quarter high for any Wildcat this season. The Panthers, after struggling offensively in the first half, were able to keep up in the third, matching NMU's output of 19 to settle the score at 55-38 with 10 minutes to play.
Jacy's ninth and historic-tying triple came early in the fourth and the Wildcats were able to enter cruise control. Holding a lead by as many as 25 in the second half, the Wildcats were able to go into the bench to get more players NCAA Tournament experience while also resting up heading of tomorrow's bout with the host-Lakers.
Northern will battle the top team in the nation for a spot in the Sweet 16, as the Wildcats and GVSU Lakers meet for the fourth time this season on Saturday, March 16th at 7:30 p.m.
Listen to the game on FM-94.9 in Marquette, and FM-107.3 in Escanaba.
