Defense Lifts Women's Basketball to 59-58 Win at UMD

DULUTH, Minn. — Michigan Tech got two defensive stops in the final moments to preserve a one-point lead and defeat Minnesota Duluth 59-58 in both teams' women's basketball season opener today at Romano Gymnasium. Jillian Ritchie blocked a shot with 13 seconds left, and Danielle Blake stole an inbound pass with 1.8 remaining to secure the victory.

Nobody scored in the final 52 seconds of the game. Kylie Moxley split a pair of free throws with 1:03 to play to put Tech up 59-56. UMD's Danielle Flood answered just 11 seconds later to pull the hosts within one.

A Tech turnover gave the ball back to the Bulldogs with 32 seconds to play, and a drive by Flood down the middle of the lane was stuffed by Ritchie with 13 seconds left.

Morgan Anderson grabbed the loose ball, and was fouled immediately. She missed the front end free throw of a 1-and-1, and UMD raced the ball down the floor. Flood's drive to the hoop got clear of the defense, but the ball was batted away from behind by Anderson with 1.8 showing on the clock.

UMD inbounded the ball under its own hoop, but Blake got a hand in the passing lane and came up with the steal.

"We gutted one out today," said Tech coach Kim Cameron. "We played tough and got the stops at the end.

Ritchie finished with 14 points to tie for game-high honors. She also had seven rebounds and three assists. Three other Huskies tallied in double figures. Anderson posted 13 points and five rebounds. Brenna Heise and Moxley each had 11 points.

"Jillian and Morgan were our heart and soul today," said Cameron. "We needed their toughness."

Tech somehow got the job done despite being minus five in turnover margin, minus three in rebounds and taking 19 fewer free throws. The difference was shooting percentage, which saw the Black and Gold at 44 percent from the field compared to 31 percent.

Michigan Tech will play its next two games at home starting next Friday (Nov. 21). Concordia-St. Paul comes to the SDC Gym for a 5 p.m. tipoff.

Notes: Tech had a 33-27 lead at half and an 11-point advantage with 15 minutes to play … Today was the 50th meeting between the Huskies and Bulldogs. UMD owns a 32-18 all-time lead in the series, but the Huskies have won six of the last nine.