PREVIEW: Huskies Back on the Road at Parkside and Purdue Northwest

Michigan Tech Game Notes (PDF)
Thurs. Jan. 9 • 6:30 p.m. at Parkside • Sat. Jan. 11 • 2 p.m. at Purdue Northwest
Michigan Tech (5-7, 3-2 GLIAC) at Parkside (7-6, 4-1 GLIAC) and Purdue Northwest (4-9, 3-2 GLIAC)
Radio: Mix93 FM WKMJ (Kirk McDonnell)
Video Stream: https://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/wbkb/2019-20/schedule
Audio Stream: Pasty.net
Live Stats: https://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/wbkb/2019-20/schedule

2019-20 WEEK EIGHT IN REVIEW
Michigan Tech split two Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference games this past week, defeating Wayne State 69-55 followed by a tough setback against fourth ranked Ashland 85-68 on Saturday. In Thursday's battle with the Warriors, the Huskies led by just one point at 31-30 at the intermission, but used a strong second half to outpace Wayne State 38-25 to pull away. In Saturday's contest, the Huskies kept things close early and the defense kept the Eagles' offense off track at times, but unfortunately it wasn't enough to get past the No. 4 team in the nation.

Senior Hannah Hobson matched a career high with 19 points to power the Michigan Tech offense Thursday night. Hobson found the target on 7 of 14 field goal attempts, including sinking 5 of 6 chances from behind the arc. Senior Ellie Welsh also equaled a career high with 15 points by going 5 for 7 from long distance. Mackay rounded out the double-digit scorers with 13 points and had three of Tech's 10 blocked shots in the game. Senior Abbie Botz grabbed eight rebounds, dished out four assists, and had two blocked shots. The Huskies made 26 of 65 shots from the field (40.0%), were 12 of 24 from three-point range (50.0%), and 5 of 8 at the free throw line (62.5%). Tech combined for 19 team assists and forced 17 Wayne State turnovers which resulted in 22 points. Each side had 24 points in the paint.

Junior Cassidy Trotter powered the Huskies with a career high 25 points while adding a team best seven rebounds and six assists against Ashland. In addition, on defense, Trotter came up with three steals and blocked two shots on the afternoon. Welsh collected 15 points for the second straight contest while Hobson chipped in nine points and four rebounds. Botz added eight points and six rebounds against the Eagles. As a team, the Huskies fired in 25 of 57 shots from the field (43.9%), found the target on 6 of 21 attempts from long distance (28.6%) and converted 12 of 14 chances at the free throw line (85.7%). Tech's defense forced 19 turnovers which led to 11 points on the offensive end of the floor. The Huskies also tossed in 32 points in the paint.

CAREER HIGHS FOR HOBSON, WELSH, AND TROTTER
Seniors Hannah Hobson and Ellie Welsh along with junior Cassidy Trotter surpassed or equaled statistical career highs this past week. Hobson equaled a career high in points with 19 against Wayne State on Thursday while also knocking down a single game career high five triples versus the Warriors. Welsh also found the target on five attempts from behind the arc against Wayne State while posting back to back 15-point games against both Wayne State and Ashland. Welsh has now recorded 15 points four times in her career. Trotter fired in a career high 25 points in Saturday's showdown with Ashland at the SDC Gym. Trotter had recently established her previous career high of 23 points in Tech's 68-28 victory over rival Northern Michigan on December 15.

GLIAC STATISTICAL RANKINGS
The Huskies are now 12 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 (13.0). Tech is seventh in successful three-point baskets per contest (7.3) and sixth in three-point attempts this per game this season (22.3). The Huskies also check in at No. 2 in free throw shooting percentage at 77.4 percent. Tech is now third in the GLIAC in steals per game (9.2) and fourth in blocked shots per game (3.6). Trotter is currently ranked 14th in the GLIAC in scoring at 12.7 points per game with Botz seventh in the conference in rebounds per game (7.4). Trotter enters this weekend fifth in the GLIAC in assists per game at 4.3 while leading the GLIAC with a 3.4 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
Parkside enters the week with an overall record of 7-6 and are 4-1 in the GLIAC as they get set to face the Huskies on Thursday. The Rangers began the year 2-6, but are on a roll having won five consecutive contests. Parkside topped Northwood 65-55 last week on the road and followed that up with an 83-77 victory at home against Saginaw Valley State. The Rangers last loss occurred at Grand Valley State University 109-70 on December 5. Parkside is second in the conference in three-point baskets made per game (10.2), is fourth in scoring at 76.2 points per game, and second in three-point shooting percentage (37.5%). Alyssa Nelson leads the Rangers in scoring and rebounding at 15.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per game respectively. She is followed by Taylor Stephen at 12.5 points and a team best 4.9 assists each time she takes the floor. Michigan Tech is 19-3 all-time against Parkside after splitting last year's season series.

Purdue Northwest is 4-9 overall, but 3-2 in the GLIAC going into their game against Northern Michigan Thursday night. The Pride have won two in a row, notching a 68-64 win at Saginaw Valley State followed by a 61-52 triumph at home over Northwood on January 4. Purdue Northwest ranks fourth in the GLIAC in fewest turnovers per game (14.8) and seventh in steals per contest (7.3). Savaya Brockington leads the Pride with a 15.6 points per game average followed by Anjel Galbraith with a 10.4 points per game average. Danielle Nennig and Brockington share the team lead in rebounds with a 4.6 boards per game average. The Huskies are 4-0 all-time against the Pride, sweeping the season series in each of the first two years that Purdue Northwest has been in the GLIAC.

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 in the friendly confines of the SDC Gym next week to host Lake Superior State Thursday and Ferris State Saturday. Lake Superior State is 6-7 overall and 3-2 in the GLIAC as they get set to face Saginaw Valley State and Northwood this week. Ferris State owns an overall record of 15-2 and 4-1 in the conference prior to showdowns with Northwood and Saginaw Valley State as well.