PREVIEW: Huskies host Wisconsin Oshkosh in exhibition

(Video) 2021-22 Women's Basketball Season Preview 

HOUGHTON, Mich. – Michigan Tech will host UW-Oshkosh at SDC Gymnasium Thursday, November 4 in exhibition women's basketball at 6 p.m. Eastern. The game will be available via local radio waves on Mix 93.5 FM with Mitch Lake on play-by-play. The Huskies are taking canned food donations at the ticket office on game day. 

HEALTH & SAFETY LEVEL TWO
- Michigan Tech is currently at Health & Safety Level Two.
- Face coverings are recommended in the SDC regardless of vaccination status.
- We encourage all fans to please continue frequent handwashing (especially before and after meals), hand sanitization and to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

SCOUTING UW-OSHKOSH

- The Titans started the season with an 81-47 exhibition loss to Division I University of Wisconsin on Halloween. Last year, UW-Oshkosh finished 9-1 overall and 6-2 in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) en route to their 14th WIAC Tournament Championship over UW-Whitewater 74-58. - - The Titans were chosen to win the WIAC in the recent preseason coaches and sports information directors poll. UW-Oshkosh is ranked No. 17 in NCAA Division III by D3hoops.com and has advanced to the conference championship in each of the past eight seasons.

- Head coach Brad Fischer is in his tenth season and brings back all five starters this year. Fischer boasts a 194-49 record and is six wins shy of becoming the 11th WIAC coach to reach 200 wins. UW Oshkosh led the conference last season with 58 points against and achieved a .455 field goal percentage and +12.7 average scoring margin.

- Leah Porath was a 2021 First Team All-American and two-time reigning WIAC Player of the Year after posting 18.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 53.4% from the field.

- UW-Oshkosh has made six trips to the Division III National Championship over the past seven tournaments, advancing to the third round in 2014, 2017, 2019, 2019, and 2020. 

SEASON PREVIEW

- Michigan Tech women's basketball returns in 2021-22 as the reigning Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament champions. Head coach Sam Clayton begins her fourth season as head coach after capturing the GLIAC Regular Season North Division title and making a trip to the NCAA Midwest Region Semifinals.

- The Huskies bring a mix of experience and youth and are led in part by captains Ellie Mackay (Novi, Michigan), Jordan Ludescher (Glen Flora, Wisconsin), and Katelyn Meister (Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin). All three were integral starters and will share a heavy workload this season following the departure of seniors Bailie McGirk and Cassidy Trotter.

- Tech finished 20-2 overall, including 17-1 in the GLIAC and unseated perennial powerhouse Ashland in the conference championship 74-63. The Eagles got their revenge in Springfield, Missouri when they edged the Huskies 74-65 in the NCAA Tournament.

MEET THE CAPTAINS

- Mackay (Junior – Guard) earned WBCA Division II Honorable Mention All-America as well as GLIAC Player of the Year, GLIAC Tournament Most Valuable Player, and GLIAC Player of the Week. She started all 22 games and averaged 15.0 points per game with a career-high 31 points at Ferris State on January 30. She also scored the winning basket as time expired to help the Huskies overcome No. 9 Grand Valley State on the road. This will be Mackay's fourth season with the Huskies after she began as the GLIAC Freshman of the Year.

- Ludescher (Sophomore – Forward) returned following a redshirt season in fine form last winter and provided much of Michigan Tech's inside presence in the post. Ludescher started all 22 contests and averaged 13.4 points and a team-high 6.4 rebounds. She was named to the GLIAC All-Tournament Team, All-GLIAC Second Team, and GLIAC All-Academic Team. Ludescher also posted 22 points in the conference championship on March 7.

- Meister (Junior – Guard) started 18 games last season and averaged five points and five rebounds per game. She scored a season-high 13 points at Saginaw Valley State on February 6. Other notable returners with experience include junior Clara Johnson (Guard – Negaunee, Michigan), junior Sloane Zenner (Guard – Houghton, Michigan), sophomore Alex Rondorf (guard – sophomore), and redshirt freshman Sara Dax (forward – Kewaunee, Wisconsin).

FRESHMAN IMPRESSION

- Incoming true freshmen include six-foot guard Isabella Lenz (Prescott, Wisconsin) and 5-foot-7-inch guard Maryellen Trewhella (Houghton, Michigan).

- Last season, the Huskies ranked fourth in the conference in scoring (67.5 points), second in defense (56.6 points against), eighth in 3-point percentage (31.7-percent), and fifth in rebounds (36.0 rebounds).

LOOKING AHEAD

- The regular season begins with a pair of games against GLVC opponents in the Northern Michigan Invitational. The Huskies then host Minnesota Crookston and Minnesota Duluth from the Northern Sun Conference before traveling to Northern State to play Minnesota State Moorhead and Northern State on the last weekend of November. Tech heads to Northwood on December 4 to tip off the GLIAC schedule. The team will have a target on their back this fall after capturing their 17^th GLIAC North Division title and tying a program record 18 straight victories with GLIAC Coach of the Year Sam Clayton.