PREVIEW: Huskies Travel West to Minnesota for Three Games

Michigan Tech Game Notes (PDF)
Fri. Nov. 15 • 9 PM St. Cloud State • Sat. Nov. 16 MSU-Moorhead 5 PM • Mon. Nov. 18 • Minnesota State 7 PM
Michigan Tech (1-1) at St. Cloud State (1-0), MSU-Moorhead (2-0), Minnesota St. (0-0)
Radio: WKMJ Mix 93 FM / WMPL 920 AM
Video Stream: http://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/wbkb/2019-20/schedule
Audio Stream: http://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/wbkb/2019-20/schedule
Live Stats: http://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/wbkb/2019-20/schedule

2019-20 WEEK ONE IN REVIEW
Michigan Tech went 1-1 during the opening weekend of the season by splitting a pair of games at the GLIAC/GLVC Crossover Tournament hosted by Lewis University. The Huskies topped the Flyers 73-63 in the season opener Saturday afternoon behind a 19-point, four rebound, and seven steal performance by junior Cassidy Trotter. Senior Abbie Botz followed with 15 points and a team high seven rebounds while sophomore Sloane Zenner rounded out the double-digit scorers with 14 points. Junior Baillie McGirk collected eight points, reeled in six rebounds, and was one of three Huskies players to distribute two assists.

As a team, the Huskies made 27 of 66 shots from the field (40.9%), were 8 for 28 from three-point range (28.6%), and converted 11 of 14 chances at the free throw line (78.6%). Rebounds were even at 35 apiece with Tech scoring 20 points off of 17 Lewis turnovers. Meanwhile, the Huskies had just six miscues in Saturday's win.

On Sunday, Tech fell to William Jewell 75-71 on the second day of the tournament. McGirk powered the Huskies' offense with 15 points on a 5 of 8 shooting performance from the field Sunday. She also had two steals on defense and three rebounds on the game. Botz closed out the contest with 13 points and secured a team high seven rebounds while Mackay chipped in 10 points off the bench. Trotter and Zenner both recorded nine points with Trotter leading the team in assists with four. As a team, the Huskies connected on 24 of 61 shots from the field (39.3%), were 8 of 23 from three-point range (34.8%), and 15 of 22 from the free throw line (68.2%).

GLIAC STATISTICAL RANKINGS
Even though the Huskies are only a couple of games into the season, they rank near the top of the conference in a number of statistical categories. The Huskies lead the conference in fewest turnovers per game (9.5) and are tops in the league in steals per game (11.5). Tech is getting to the free throw line third most in the league with 18 attempts per game so far. The Huskies are also third in the GLIAC in blocks per game (3.5) and fourth in successful three-point baskets per contest (8.0). Botz and Trotter are currently ranked 9th in the GLIAC in scoring at 14.0 points per game with Botz tied for sixth in the conference in rebounds per game (7.0).

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.

HUSKIES RECEIVE VOTES IN WBCA DIVISION II PRESEASON POLL
The Huskies are receiving votes in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association NCAA Division II Preseason Top 25 Poll, announced on Thursday October 21st  by the national office. The Huskies are one of three Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference teams who are in the preseason poll, with Grand Valley State ranked third and Ashland eighth prior to the tip-off of the regular season.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Michigan Tech will play three games in four days in the state of Minnesota beginning on Friday and wrapping up Monday night. Up first is St. Cloud State who enters the weekend 1-0 after defeating Valley City State University 81-57 at home this past Saturday. St. Cloud State was 19-10 overall a year ago and 14-8 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. In game one of this season, the Huskies had four players score in double figures in their win over Valley City State. Tori Wortz led the charge with 15 points followed by Nikki Kilboten with 14 points, Katrina Theis had 13 points, and Madelin Dammann had 12 points. Theis and Brehna Evans shared the team lead in rebounds with six each. All of the aforementioned players were in the starting lineup last weekend. Tech will play St. Cloud State on the campus of MSU-Moorhead.

MSU-Moorhead is 2-0 coming into the week after solid wins over No. 11 Central Missouri 58-56 and Rogers State 98-41 in Aberdeen, South Dakota last weekend. Megan Hintz is the top scorer for the Dragons through the first two games of the season thanks to a 21.0 points per game scoring average. She has connected on nearly 70 percent of her shots from the field while averaging seven rebounds per game. Brooklyn Liegel follows with a 10.5 points per game scoring average through two games. This will be the fourth all-time meeting with MSU-Moorhead on Saturday. The Huskies lead the series 2-1 after defeating the Dragons 59-48 last season in Houghton. The last time the two teams played in Moorhead, Tech prevailed 66-53 on November 16th, 2017.

Minnesota State plays their first regular season game Thursday night at home against Northern Michigan. The Mavericks first three games will be at home, including Monday night's contest against the Huskies. Minnesota State was 14-13 last season and 11-11 in the NSIC. Taylor Drost is back after leading Minnesota State in scoring in 2018-19 with a 13.4 points per game scoring average. Brooke Tonsfeldt averaged a team best 7.0 rebounds per game and added 8.3 points per contest on the offensive end of the floor. The Mavericks have won two in a row against the Huskies and lead the all-time series 6-3. Minnesota State edged Tech in overtime last year at the SDC Gym 72-68. The Huskies most recent victory was a 70-61 decision at home on November 29th, 2014.

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 are at home for the first time in 2019-20 to play Concordia-St. Paul Friday followed by a showdown with Minnesota Duluth Sunday. The Golden Bears are 1-1 as they host Parkside Friday while The Bulldogs are searching for their first win at 0-3 when they entertain Northern Michigan and Parkside this Saturday and Sunday.