Preview: Huskies head to Ferris State

HOUGHTON, Mich. – Michigan Tech women's basketball travels to Ferris State for a pair of GLIAC games this week. The teams are scheduled to play Friday and Saturday at 4 p.m. both days. The Huskies are currently on a four-game winning streak which included a 55-46 victory over Northern Michigan University Tuesday night in Houghton. Fans can listen to the games free on pasty.net or WMPL AM 920. Streaming is available through Ferris State's stretch internet portal. Last season, Tech lost both games of the season series against the Bulldogs.

FOR THE HUSKIES: Defense has been key to Tech's early season success. MTU has held opponents to less than 50 points in five of seven games so far and 56 points are the most points they have surrendered. The Huskies rank No. 5 among NCAA Division II teams for team defense with 49.6 points per game against.

STAT LEADERS:

Points: Ellie Mackay, 12.7 PPG

Rebounds: Jordan Ludescher, 6.1 RPG

Assists: Baillie McGirk, 3.1 APG

Blocks: Sloane Zenner, Katelyn Meister, 1.3 BPG

Steals: Cassidy Trotter, 2.0 SPG

LAST TIME OUT: Continuing a trend of second half acceleration, the Michigan Tech women's basketball team earned its fourth straight win 55-46 over Northern Michigan Tuesday at SDC Gymnasium. Ellie Mackay led the Huskies with 18 points and four rebounds and fellow guard Baillie McGirk had 10 points and a pair of rebounds. McGirk made a memorable play at the buzzer to end the third quarter when she weaved coast to coast and floated in a shot to give MTU a 12-point advantage. 

On offense, Tech connected on 40.4-percent of all attempts (19-for-47) and went 7-for-19 (36.8-percent) from the 3-point arc. The Wildcats did not make a 3-pointer until Samantha Potter ended the drought in the third quarter and NMU finished 1 for 10 from long range. Northern Michigan did make headway at the free throw line and with frequent trips, connected on 17 of 20 (85-percent) from the stripe. The Huskies were 10-for-17 (58.8-percent) on their attempted free throws.

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS: Ferris State (3-4) has won three of its last four games. Last time out, the Bulldogs downed Lake Superior State 85-65 in Sault Ste. Marie. Kadyn Blanchard led the way with 32 points (12-for-22, 6-10 3-pt) and 10 rebounds. Blanchard will be the Huskies top priority on defense. The freshman guard posted a season high 39 points against Wisconsin-Parkside and is averaging a league best 23.7 points per game. Blanchard earned GLIAC player of the week on January 19 and has two double-doubles.

The Bulldogs score 69.0 points and shoot 40.6-percent overall. Ferris State is also solid from the free throw line (80-percent) and pulls down 31.3 rebounds. Ferris State went 21-8 (15-5 GLIAC) in 2019-20 and fell to Wayne State 78-76 in the GLIAC Quarterfinals. Their NCAA Division II Midwest Region quarterfinal against Grand Valley State was cancelled in March.

AROUND THE LEAGUE: Grand Valley State leads the South Division with a 6-1 record. GVSU defeated Davenport 77-60 on Tuesday. Michigan Tech (6-1) is two games clear of second place Northern Michigan (4-3) in the GLIAC North Division. Ferris State (3-4) and Wisconsin-Parkside (3-4) follow. 

Makaylee Kuhn (Northern Michigan) earned GLIAC North Division player of the week. Kuhn tallied 47 points on the weekend, leading her team to a series split with Ferris State University. The Wildcats' leading scorer recorded 31 points on night one, scoring nearly half of her team's 77 total points for the 77-61 final. In game two she was held to 16 points by the Bulldogs, a season-low for the sophomore guard, but rallied to lead her team back from an 18-point deficit in the fourth quarter as the Wildcats fell just short to the GLIAC foe, 66-64. Grace George (Wayne State) captured honors for South Division Player of the Week.