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Posted: Jan 01, 2020

PREVIEW: Huskies Open New Year against Wayne State and Ashland

Women's Basketball Player intros

Michigan Tech Game Notes (PDF)
Thurs. Jan. 2 • 5:30 p.m. vs Wayne State • Sat. Jan. 4 • 1 p.m. vs Ashland
Michigan Tech (4-6, 2-1 GLIAC) vs Wayne State (7-4, 1-2 GLIAC) and Ashland (11-0, 3-0 GLIAC)
 Radio: Mix93 FM WKMJ (Mitch Lake)
Video Stream: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/mtu/
 Audio Stream: Pasty.net
Live Stats: https://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/wbkb/2019-20/schedule

 HUSKIES WIN ROUND ONE AGAINST NORTHERN MICHIGAN
 Michigan Tech secured a resounding 68-28 victory over rival Northern Michigan in the final game of the 2019 calendar year on Sunday December 15. The Huskies controlled the game from start to finish to improve to 2-1 against Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opponents. It's the fewest points allowed in the history of the all-time series between the Huskies and the Wildcats which dates back to 1976. Tech surrendered only 37 points to Northern Michigan in a 72-37 win at home on February 23, 2017. The Huskies outscored the Wildcats 22-2 in the third quarter to put the game out of reach.

Junior Cassidy Trotter connected on 7 of 10 shots from the field, went 3 for 5 from behind the arc, and 6 for 6 at the free throw line to power the Huskies' offense on Sunday with 23 points. She also blocked two shots, had seven steals, four assists, and four rebounds. Senior Abbie Botz had a solid afternoon as well, recording a double-double thanks to 13 points and 13 rebounds in the victory. She also shared the team lead in assists with senior Hannah Hobson and Trotter. Hobson along with sophomore Ellie Mackay and freshman Katelyn Meister chipped in six points each.

Tech found success on 25 of 51 shots from the field (49.0%), hit the target on 7 of 16 attempts from three-point range (43.8%), and converted 11 of 12 opportunities at the free throw line (91.7%). Tech out-rebounded Northern Michigan 41-26 and scored 28 points in the paint while forcing 21 turnovers which led to 24 points on offense. Northern Michigan made only 11 of 51 field goal attempts (21.6%), were 4 for 28 from long distance (14.3%), and 2 of 3 at the free throw line (66.7%).

TROTTER SELECTED GLIAC NORTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK
 Michigan Tech junior guard Cassidy Trotter was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference North Division Player of the Week, announced following Tech's win over rival Northern Michigan. Trotter helped lead the Huskies to a key 68-28 win over the rival Wildcats at the SDC Gym. It was the second week in a row for a Tech player to earn Player of the Week honors with sophomore guard Ellie Mackay chosen as the previous week's recipient.

Trotter, who hails from Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, connected on 7 of 10 shots from the field, went 3 for 5 from behind the arc, and 6 for 6 at the free throw line to power the Huskies' offense with a career high 23 points. She also blocked two shots, had seven steals, four assists, and four rebounds to round out a tremendous overall game. Trotter is second on the team in scoring at 11.8 points per game and also reels in 4.1 rebounds per contest. She leads the Huskies in both assists per game at 4.1 and steals per game at 3.7.

GLIAC STATISTICAL RANKINGS
 The Huskies are now 10 games into the 2019-20 season and they rank near the top of the conference in a number of statistical categories. The Huskies are first in the conference in fewest turnovers per game (12.4). Tech is eighth in successful three-point baskets per contest (6.9) and sixth in three-point attempts this per game this season (22.3). The Huskies also check in at No. 3 in free throw shooting percentage at 77.4 percent. Mackay is currently ranked 12th in the GLIAC in scoring at 12.9 points per game with Botz seventh in the conference in rebounds per game (7.5). Trotter enters this weekend seventh in the GLIAC in assists per game at 4.1 while leading the GLIAC with a 3.7 steals per game average.

GLIAC PRESEASON POLL
 Michigan Tech was selected to finish first in the GLIAC North Division this year when the coaches' preseason poll was announced Thursday by the conference office. Tech earned 58 points in the poll along with eight first place votes, edging out Northern Michigan who was picked second with 53 points and four first place votes. Ferris State checked in at the No. 3 spot in the North Division with 40 points followed by Parkside with 32 points (No. 4), Lake Superior State had 19 points (No. 5), and Purdue Northwest was issued 14 points (No. 6). Over in the South Division, Grand Valley State holds the No. 1 spot with 61 points and 11 first place votes followed by Ashland University with 51 points and one first place vote. Northwood checks in at No. 3 with 38 points, Wayne State is fourth with 30 points, Davenport lands in the No. 5 spot with 20 points, and Saginaw Valley State is sixth with 16 points.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
 Wayne State is 7-4 overall and 1-2 in the GLIAC heading into Thursday's game against the Huskies. The Warriors fell at Ashland 79-54 in their most recent conference contest December 14 before wrapping up the 2019 calendar year with a pair of non-conference contests. Wayne State dropped an 84-73 decision at Fairmont State December 18, but slipped past Cedarville 75-72 on December 21 at home. The Warriors lead the GLIAC in free throws made (17.0) and attempted (23.6) per game. They also pace the conference in total rebounds per night (44.6) and check in at No. 4 in the conference in rebounding margin at 6.7. The Warriors have three players averaging 11 or more points per game, guided by Grace George at 14.2 points and a team best 9.6 rebounds per game. Sadia Johnson chips in 13.4 points per contest followed by Nastassja Chambers at 11.3 points each time she takes the floor. The Huskies lead the all-time series with the Warriors 43-18.

Ashland University is 11-0 and 3-0 in the GLIAC going into a Thursday showdown at Northern Michigan. The Eagles lead the GLIAC in multiple statistical categories, including scoring, at 93.0 points per game. The Eagles are converting on 52.0 percent of their field goals, 45.3 percent of their triples, and 79.0 percent of their free throw attempts. They are also out-rebounding opponents by 11.4 boards while hauling down 41.3 rebounds over the course of 40 minutes. Forward Sara Loomis is fourth in the conference in scoring at 17.7 points per game and first in the GLIAC with a 10.0 rebounds per game average. The Eagles are coming off a 95-55 win over Southern Indiana on December 22 and lead the all-time series with the Huskies 18-17 entering Saturday's contest.

COACH HOYT
 Sam Hoyt was named as the ninth head coach of the Michigan Tech women's basketball program, Director of Athletics Suzanne Sanregret announced Tuesday (May 29, 2018). Hoyt returns to Tech from the University of Sioux Falls where she served as an assistant coach. Hoyt was a standout player for the Huskies, helping lead the program to the 2011 NCAA Division II National Championship game as well as garnering multiple individual awards, including All-American Honorable Mention honors. In her first season at Tech (2018-19), Hoyt guided the Huskies to a 21-9 overall record and a 16-4 mark in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Huskies claimed their 16th GLIAC North Division/Conference title last season and were the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament.

NEXT UP
 The Huskies will be back on the road for the first time since mid-November when they travel to Parkside and Purdue Northwest next Thursday and Saturday. It will be the first road test for the Huskies in the GLIAC following five consecutive home contests to begin the conference portion of the 2019-20 schedule. Parkside is 5-6 overall and 2-1 in the GLIAC as they get set to face Northwood and Saginaw Valley State this week. Purdue Northwest owns an overall record of 2-8 and 1-2 in the conference prior to showdowns with Saginaw Valley State and Northwood as well.