EDINBORO, Pa. — The NMU women’s basketball team opened their season on fire, sweeping the CCA Tip-Off Classic and storming out to a 3-0 start. 

Three days. Three games. Three wins. 

The ‘Cats took down California (Pa.) 66-57 on Friday, upset No. 5 Gannon 60-58 on Saturday and closed out the weekend with a 65-50 statement win over Edinboro on Sunday, their best start since 2019. 

Head Coach Casey Thousand couldn’t help but celebrate after the final buzzer Sunday. 

“We talked all week about setting the tone for the season,” Thousand said. “This group showed up hungry, tough, and ready to compete. To beat three teams in three days, and one of them a top five team, that’s just heart.” 

Friday their breakout weekend started. Northern’s first game against Cal (Pa.) was a gritty one. The Wildcats trailed 30-22 at halftime before a second-half surge flipped the script.

Senior Jacy Weisbrod and junior Sydney Whitehouse each scored 18 points, while Alyssa Hill secured 12 rebounds. 

“We started slow, but no one panicked,” Thousand said. “At halftime, it wasn’t yelling, it was composure. They knew what they needed to do. And they went out and did it.” 

A key 11-0 run in the fourth quarter sealed the deal for the ‘Cats, setting the tone for what was to come. 

If Friday was about resilience, Saturday was about statement. Northern handed No. 5 Gannon its first loss of the season, and the Wildcats’ first win over a top-five opponent since 2019. 

Weisbrod again led the charge with 16 points, while Sarah Newcomer buried three triples to help NMU stay in control. Thousand highlighted the defensive effort as a key to the win. 

“I’m a defensive coach, and I loved what we did against Gannon,” Thousand said. “They’re a team that loves the three-ball, and we made them work for every shot. Everyone who stepped on the court contributed.” 

Coach Thousand called it one of the most composed performances she’s seen from her squad. 

“They never flinched,” she said. “Even when Gannon made that late push, our girls locked in defensively. That’s Wildcat basketball.” 

By Sunday, Northern looked like a team on a mission. Edinboro jumped out to a 10-0 lead, but the Wildcats answered with a 12-0 run of their own and never looked back. 

Weisbrod poured in 17 points and hit two key threes, while Addison Pytleski posted a career-high 14 points and Whitehouse added 12. NMU hit 10-of-22 from deep and held Edinboro to just 3-of-15 from beyond the arc. 

“By the third game, you could tell the adrenaline was still there,” Thousand said. “Three games back-to-back-to-back is not easy, but the girls were fired up and ready to go. 

Coach Thousand said she could feel the team’s chemistry “click” as the weekend went on. 

“That’s the fun part,” she said. “You watch them start to trust each other more, talk more, and play faster. We got better every single game.” 

Looking Ahead 

With the perfect weekend in the books, Northern now turns its focus to the home opener against Upper Iowa on Friday, Nov. 14. 

“We’re proud, but we’re not satisfied,” Thousand said. “This is just the beginning. We’ve got something special here.” 

The Wildcats leave Pennsylvania undefeated, and officially on notice.