2014-15 Northern Michigan Preview (by Brian Lester, GLIAC contributor)

Coach: Troy Mattson enters his 10th season as the head coach of the Wildcats

Overview: Expectations will be high for Northern Michigan, which won the GLIAC tournament and played in the NCAA tournament. The Wildcats have the talent to make another run, especially with Alyssa Colla back in the mix. The senior guard was an All-GLIAC first-team pick and an All-GLIAC defensive team selection, she was also an all-region selection. Colla averaged 16.4 ppg game last year. Senior guard Lauren Gruber also returns. She was a second-team All-GLIAC selection and was named to the league’s all-defensive team as well. Gruber averaged 9.9 points per outing. Colla tallied 45 steals last year and Gruber came up with 29 steals. If those two play up to the level they did last year, the Wildcats are going to be tough to beat. NMU has also added several new players, including Division I transfer Kendall Martenet. She is a junior forward from New Hampshire.

Noteworthy: Colla and Gruber ranked first and third on the team in 3-pointers made last year, with Colla connecting 35 times and Gruber making 30 treys.

Northern Michigan Sports Information Preview

Northern Michigan University women’s basketball looks to build upon their success last season when they reached the NCAA Tournament.  Head coach Troy Mattson returns for his 10^th season returning 13 of 15 players from a season ago.   The Wildcats return two All-GLIAC players in senior guards Alyssa Colla (Muskego, Wis.) and Lauren Gruber (West Bend, Wis.).  Colla was named to first team All-GLIAC, while Gruber earned second with both being named to the All-Defensive Team.

Colla led the Wildcats averaging 16.4 points per game and was named Second Team All-Midwest Region. Gruber meanwhile averaged 9.9 points per game. Both senior guards shot the ball over .800 with Colla connecting on .879 of her shots and Gruber hitting .832.

One of the top newcomers for the team this season will be junior transfer Kendall Martnet (St. Louis, Mo.) who comes to NMU after spending two years at Division I New Hampshire.  Mattson was also able to bring in three freshman guards in Chloe Thompkins (Dousman, Wis.), Tess Weatherly (Howell, Mich.) and Darby Youngstrom (Cook, Minn.).