Kenosha, Wis. – After another gutsy road victory, the Parkside Rangers face two more games this weekend. In fact, the implications continue to grow as these next two challenges will be the first two conference games of the season. Parkside will open the conference season on Thursday night against Michigan Tech in Houghton before heading to Marquette to face Northern Michigan on Saturday.
Last Week for the Rangers
The Rangers recorded a 1-1 record last weekend, splitting a home and an away game. Ironically, the trend continued: the Rangers secured another road win but suffered another home loss. They now hold a 4-2 overall record, with all four wins coming on the road and both losses at home. This is the first time a Parkside team has started 4-0 on the road since the 2014-15 season. The Rangers aim to maintain their perfect road record this week.
The week began with a narrow loss to Lewis at De Simone Arena. Despite Chloe Van Zeeland's career-high 25 points, the Rangers fell 68-61 to the reigning GLVC Champions.
Parkside rebounded with a 69-63 win on the road against St. Cloud State. After trailing 24-17 at the end of the first quarter, the Rangers rallied to tie the game at halftime. Two strong quarters from Peighton Nelson in the second half proved decisive. Nelson delivered her second 20-point performance of the season, scoring 23 points, with 17 coming after the break.
Nelson is averaging 13.7 points per game while shooting 44% from the field. She is joined in double figures by Cassidy Arni (16.0), Sheridan Flauger (12.7), and Chloe Van Zeeland (10.8). These players contribute to Parkside's high-powered offense, which ranks third in the GLIAC with an average of 71.7 points per game. However, the Rangers will look to improve their three-point shooting, currently at 25%, down from 32% last season.
FULL GAME NOTES HERE
Scouting Michigan Tech
After clashing in the GLIAC Quarterfinals last season, Michigan Tech and Parkside will coincidently match up to start the conference season. The Huskies enter the game with a 3-5 record and are 2-2 at home, with wins over Bemidji State and Winona State. Their loaded home schedule continues with Parkside and Purdue Northwest in the opening weekend. Michigan Tech was picked to finish fifth in the GLIAC Preseason Poll, one spot behind Parkside.
The player to watch for the Huskies is #23 Isabella Lenz, who recently joined the program's 1,000-point club. She became the 31st player in program history to reach that mark, joining a prestigious group which includes her head coach Sam Clayton. Lenz is averaging 14.5 points per game while shooting an efficient 46% from the field and 43% from three-point range. Kendall Standfest, another key contributor, averages 13.8 points per game and leads the team with an impressive 48% three-point shooting percentage.
Scouting Northern Michigan
The unbeaten Wildcats host Purdue Northwest before welcoming Parkside to the newly renovated Vandament Arena. Northern Michigan is 6-0, with statement wins over Lewis, Minnesota Duluth, and St. Cloud State—three teams Parkside has also faced. Though not currently ranked in the WBCA Top-25, the Wildcats have received votes for multiple weeks. They were picked to finish third in the GLIAC Preseason Poll and have lived up to expectations under third-year Head Coach Casey Thousand, who led the team to the NCAA Tournament last season.
Jacy Weisbrod, a three-point specialist and the Wildcats' leading scorer, is averaging 15 points per game. Although her three-point shooting percentage has dipped to 35% from 42% last season, she has shown flashes of brilliance, including a 27-point performance against Minnesota-Crookston, in which she knocked down six triples. Defensively, Northern Michigan has been stellar, allowing just 54.8 points per game, the second-best mark in the GLIAC.
History
Thursday's game is the 22nd all-time meeting between Parkside and Michigan Tech. While Parkside won both matchups last season, the Huskies lead the all-time series 12-9 and are 9-3 against the Rangers in Houghton. Similarly, Northern Michigan has dominated their series with Parkside, holding an 11-5 all-time record. The Wildcats have won five straight since 2021 and remain unbeaten against Parkside at home.
