Sports In Brief for Nov. 23, 2014

Top News of the Week

HUSKIES EARN FIRST NO. 1 RANKING SINCE 1976
Michigan Tech earned its first national No. 1 ranking since 1976 last week by claiming the top spot in both the USCHO.com poll and USA TODAY/USA Hockey Magazine poll. The Huskies were unranked in the preseason and first three polls, then climbed from 17 to nine to five to one.

HOCKEY STREAK ENDS AT 10

Michigan Tech saw its school record and nation-leading winning streak of 10 games come to an end last Friday (Nov. 14) as Minnesota State defeated the Huskies 2-1. The Mavericks also earned a 3-2 victory Saturday (Nov. 15), dropping Tech to 10-2 overall and 8-2 in WCHA play. The Huskies still sit atop the league standings with two WCHA games coming this weekend (Nov. 28-29) at Alabama Huntsville.

STELZER GUIDES MEN’S BASKETBALL TO WIN IN OPENER

Senior Ben Stelzer poured in 28 points including 18 in the first half to help Michigan Tech win at Minnesota Duluth on Saturday (Nov. 22). The Huskies trailed by five at halftime and came back to win 60-58 with a pair of defensive stops in the final moments. Tech returns to Minnesota this weekend for a pair of games in the Southwest Minnesota State Classic.

DEFENSE PROPELS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TO WIN OVER NO. 10 CONCORDIA

Michigan Tech limited No. 10-ranked Concordia-St. Paul to just 21 points after halftime in a 65-54 victory at the SDC Gym last Friday (Nov. 21). The Huskies allowed just eight field goals on 28 attempts to shut down a team that participated in the NCAA Elite Eight a year ago. Danielle Blake (23 points, nine rebounds) and Jillian Ritchie (11 points, 13 rebounds) led Tech in the win. The women’s team plays a second non-conference home game on Saturday (Nov. 29) when Minnesota State comes to Houghton.

FOOTBALL HUSKIES FALL IN HEARTBREAKER AT SHERMAN

Michigan Tech had a 21-point lead in the first half and a pair of 14-point leads in the second but couldn’t hold off Angelo State in a 42-41 loss in NCAA Playoff action at Sherman Field. The Huskies drove 58 yards in 1:21 to set up a potential game-winning field goal with six seconds left, but the attempt was missed. Tech’s 2014 season ends with a 9-2 record. The Huskies were just the second team in school history to make the NCAA Playoffs and the fourth to win nine games.

PENGELLY HEADED TO CROSS COUNTRY NATIONALS

Sean Pengelly finished 13th overall at Saturday’s (Nov. 22) NCAA Midwest Region Championships and has earned a spot at the NCAA Nationals in Louisville, Ky., on Dec. 6. The Michigan Tech men’s cross country team, which entered ranked No. 8 in the region, ran to form, finishing eighth of 34 teams in the region. The women took 18th of 35 Division II teams in the Midwest. Pengelly raced through the 10-kilometer course in 31:05 to put himself in position to qualify for Nationals. The top three individuals who are not on advancing teams qualify, and Pengelly was in that third spot.

What’s Happening Next Week

Monday, Nov. 24, 2014
Mel Pearson Show, 10-11 a.m. on Mix 93.5 FM

Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014
Huskies Drive Time, 7:30-8 a.m. on Mix 93.5 FM

Friday, Nov. 28, 2014
Nordic Skiing at West Yellowstone Ski Festival (Montana)
Hockey at Alabama Huntsville, 8:07 p.m. (Live Radio, Mix 93.5 FM)
Men’s Basketball at Southwest Minnesota State, 9 p.m. (Live Radio, WMPL 920 AM)

Saturday, November 29, 2014
Nordic Skiing at West Yellowstone Ski Festival (Montana)
Women’s Basketball hosts Minnesota State, 2 p.m. (Live Radio, Mix 93.5 FM)
Men’s Basketball vs. Wayne State (Neb.), 7 p.m. (at Marshall, Minn.) (Live Radio, WMPL 920 AM)
Hockey at Alabama Huntsville, 8:07 p.m. (Live Radio, Mix 93.5 FM)

All times Eastern • Home events in bold

Last Week’s Results

Hockey (10-2-0, 8-2-0 WCHA)
11/21 — No. 9 Minnesota State 2, at No. 1 Michigan Tech 1
11/22 — No. 9 Minnesota State 3, at No. 1 Michigan Tech 2

Football (9-2, 9-2 GLIAC)
NCAA Super Region 4 Quarterfinal
11/22 — No. 23 Angelo State 42, No. 18 Michigan Tech 41

Men’s Basketball (1-0, 0-0 GLIAC)
11/22 — Michigan Tech 60, at Minnesota Duluth 58

Women’s Basketball (2-0, 0-0 GLIAC)
11/21 — at Michigan Tech 65, No. 10 Concordia-St. Paul 54

Cross Country
11/22 — Michigan Tech men 8th of 34 teams, women 18th of 35 teams at NCAA Midwest Region Championships (at Evansville, Ind.)