Huskies win streak extinguished by Bulldogs
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ferris State (10-1,4-0 GLIAC) | 24 | 26 | 18 | 12 | 80 |
|
Michigan Tech (8-2,3-1 GLIAC) | 14 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 74 |
HOUGHTON, Mich. – Michigan Tech's five-game win streak ended Saturday afternoon against Ferris State 80-74 at SDC Gymnasium. The Bulldogs scored 50 points in the first half and took over the top spot in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate North Division at 4-0 (10-1 overall). The Huskies fell to 3-1 (8-2 overall) as the Bulldogs won their 10th straight game.
Mallory McCartney led the Bulldogs with 22 points, including 7-12 from beyond the arc. Adrienne Anderson also posted 20 points and five assists for FSU. Alex Rondorf topped her career-high with 21 points for the Huskies for a 40 point week.
"We weren't that sharp defensively in the first half, especially when we were playing zone. We allowed Ferris State to shoot 10-for-21 from three in the first half which just wasn't good enough. In the second half we improved a lot defending ball screens and communicating to take away the open looks. It was encouraging to hold Ferris to 30 second-half points. Now if we could have put together 40-minutes, it potentially becomes a different game. I thought Alex (Rondorf) had a great game for us on both ends of the floor. She was flying around like she always does."
FIRST HALF
Ferris State connected on 6 of 12 three-point shots in the first quarter to lead 24-14. The Huskies made headway in the paint with 10 points but failed to connect on their first six long-range attempts. Rondorf broke the drought with five minutes to play in the second quarter but the Bulldogs continued to out-rebound Tech by a near two to one margin. McCartney put away six 3-pointers on seven tries for 18 points. Rondorf tallied 13 points in the lane for Michigan Tech.
Tech shot 53.8-percent in the first half while the Bulldogs maintained 52.9-percent shooting, including 47.6-percent (10-for-21) from beyond the arc
SECOND HALF
Ellie Mackay and Kadyn Blanchard exchanged corner threes to start the third quarter. Then the Bulldogs pushed their lead to 20 before back-to-back jump shots by Daisy Ansel closed the margin to 68-55 with ten minutes remaining in the game. Dax came through the lane to pull the Huskies back to a nine-point deficit 76-67 after a series of defensive stops. Ellie Mackay made a jumper in the corner and MTU forced Ferris into a shot clock violation with 41.2 seconds remaining at 78-72.
Rondorf fell backward after coming down with an offensive rebound and Tech called timeout with 22.4 seconds left. Daisy Ansel missed a 3-point attempt and Ferris State held on at the free throw line.
The Huskies outscored the Bulldogs 38-22 in the paint and held a 19-12 in the fourth quarter. Rondorf was an efficient 9-for-13 from the field with seven boards. Tech shot 27-for-54 (50-percent) but just 5-for-22 (22.7-percent) from the 3-point arc.
Mackay finished with 18 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Sara Dax made it to double-figures with 13 points, seven rebounds, and Ansel collected seven rebounds with four assists.
The Bulldogs forced 15 Husky turnovers and committed eight. Tech collected 37 rebounds (compared to 32 for FSU) after trailing the category 18-11 in the first half.
Michigan Tech hits the road to play No. 3 Drury University on Saturday, December 18 at 5:45 p.m.in a non-conference game. The Huskies allowed more than 74 points for the first time in more than two years.
