KENOSHA, Wis. – GLIAC play arrives at DeSimone Arena this week as the Parkside women's basketball team opens conference action with a marquee home doubleheader against a pair of the league's best from Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The Rangers, who finished fifth in the league a year ago at 13-7 before bowing out in the GLIAC quarterfinals at Wayne State, will welcome No. 18 Northern Michigan on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 5:30 p.m. CT and (RV) Michigan Tech on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. CT. Parkside was picked fourth in this year's GLIAC preseason coaches' poll, while junior Cassidy Arni earned a spot on the Preseason All-GLIAC First Team.
The Rangers return to Kenosha at 4-3 after another 1-1 week on the road. Parkside opened the stretch with a gritty 55-50 win at Lewis on Tuesday, handing the Flyers their first home loss since January 2024. Arni powered the Rangers with 16 points, nine rebounds and five blocks, including the game-saving rejection in the final seconds, while guard Katie Hamill added 12 points. After a brief Thanksgiving break, Parkside headed north to Mankato for a clash with No. 5 Minnesota State–Mankato and fell 85-73, but held one of Division II's most explosive offenses to its lowest point total of the season while being undone by 32 turnovers. Arni finished with 20 points on 8-for-13 shooting and seven boards, and fellow junior Lillie Petersen chipped in 18 points.
Through seven games, Parkside is averaging 63.9 points per game on 41 percent shooting from the field and 26 percent from three, while holding opponents to 60.6 points on 37 percent shooting and 27 percent from deep. The Rangers have been solid on the glass with a +2.1 rebounding margin, pulling down 37.9 boards per contest, and have made their presence felt defensively with 5.3 blocks and 8.1 steals per game.
Offensively, Hamill continues to lead the way at 15.9 points per game, shooting 46 percent from the floor, 39 percent from beyond the arc and 91 percent at the free-throw line. Arni adds 13.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game while anchoring the defense with six blocks and 12 steals. Petersen provides consistent interior production at 11.4 points per game and a team-high 7.4 rebounds while shooting 50 percent from the field. Point guard Peighton Nelson has been the primary facilitator with 7.3 points and a team-leading 4.3 assists per contest, while sophomore wing Alli Hampel supplies scoring off the bench at 6.1 points per game. Parkside is averaging 12.3 assists but will look to clean up a 18.4-turnover average as conference play begins.
Thursday, December 4
Parkside vs No. 18 Northern Michigan
5:30 p.m. CT | DeSimone Arena | Kenosha, Wis.
Saturday, December 6
Parkside vs (RV) Michigan Tech
2:00 p.m. CT | DeSimone Arena | Kenosha, Wis.
SCOUTING NO. 18 NORTHERN MICHIGAN:
Northern Michigan enters the opening week of GLIAC play at 8-1 and has been one of the league's most complete teams through the first month of the season, including a perfect 4-0 mark in true road games. The Wildcats own a marquee win over then-No. 7 Gannon on Nov. 8 and were picked second in the GLIAC preseason coaches' poll with 87 points. Senior guard Jacy Weisbrod was named to the Preseason All-GLIAC First Team, and the Wildcats are coming off a 2024-25 season in which they finished second in the GLIAC at 15-5 before falling to Ferris State in the conference tournament semifinals.
This season, Northern Michigan is averaging 74.0 points per game while allowing just 59.2, good for a +14.8 scoring margin. The Wildcats are shooting 44 percent from the field and 39 percent from three while holding a +8.4 rebounding margin. Defensively, they have held six of their nine opponents under 60 points and have consistently limited second-chance opportunities.
Weisbrod leads the Wildcats at 18.7 points per game and has been one of the top perimeter threats in the GLIAC, shooting better than 44 percent from three. Fellow senior Sarah Newcomer contributes 8.7 points per game and stretches defenses with her outside shooting, while Alyssa Hill anchors the frontcourt with 8.2 points and a team-best 7.2 rebounds per game. Addison Pytleski adds 8.3 points per contest and is coming off a career-high 15-point performance last weekend, and Sydney Whitehouse (7.6 points) provides additional scoring depth. Northern Michigan returns 12 players from last season's NCAA Tournament team and is led by fourth-year head coach Casey Thousand.
Northern Michigan leads the all-time series 27-6 and has won nine of the last ten meetings, including seven straight. Parkside has not defeated the Wildcats since Feb. 3, 2022, and is 6-13 against Northern Michigan at home. Both meetings last season were decided by five points or fewer, including a 72-67 loss in Marquette and a 69-68 setback at DeSimone Arena.
SCOUTING (RV) MICHIGAN TECH:
Michigan Tech will make its way to Kenosha following a Thursday night contest at Roosevelt in Chicago. The Huskies open GLIAC play at 4-2 overall and are still looking for their first road win of the season. Tech went 9-11 in league play a year ago and earned the No. 8 seed in the GLIAC Tournament before falling to top-seeded Grand Valley State. This season, the Huskies were picked sixth in the GLIAC preseason poll, with Kendall Standfest earning Preseason All-GLIAC Second Team honors.
The Huskies are averaging 66.8 points per game while allowing 62.7 and shooting 42 percent from the field and 33 percent from three. Michigan Tech has been efficient at the free-throw line at 81 percent and holds a slight edge on the glass with a +1.8 rebounding margin.
Ella Mason leads Tech at 12.5 points per game, followed by Alyssa Wypych at 11.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per contest. Graduate forward Janie Tormanen provides steady interior production at 10.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, while Standfest contributes 8.0 points and 5.7 boards. In total, five different Huskies are averaging at least eight points per game, giving Tech a balanced offensive attack. Head coach Sam Clayton is in her eighth season at the helm.
Parkside holds a 10-23 record all-time against Michigan Tech but has won the last three meetings, including both contests last season. The Rangers are 7-7 against the Huskies at DeSimone Arena and 7-7 in the series since joining the GLIAC.
LOOKING AHEAD:
Following the opening weekend of conference play, Parkside will have another extended break before returning to DeSimone Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 16 to host Illinois-Springfield at 5 p.m. CT.
For continued coverage of Parkside women's basketball throughout the season, visit parksiderangers.com/coverage.
