Huskies Win in Comeback Fashion on Thursday at Findlay

FINDLAY, Ohio – The Michigan Tech women's basketball team was down by four points with under five minutes to go but finished the game on a 10-0 run to defeat the Findlay Oilers 69-63 on Thursday (Dec. 12) evening from Croy Gymnasium. The Huskies scored 41 points in the first half and had four players in double figures to move to 4-2 overall and 3-0 in the GLIAC.

Down four (63-59) with 4:37 remaining, the Huskies started their run on a free throw by Paige Albi. Kylie Moxley added two more from the charity stripe to get the Huskies within one (63-62).

Moxley then stole the ball on the Oilers next possession. Kerry Gardner missed a jump shot but Albi came up with a huge offensive rebound and put-back to give Tech the lead (64-63) with 1:21 left.

Findlay (4-1, 2-1 GLIAC) missed their next shot and Danielle Blake rebounded the ball. Tech coach Kim Cameron called a timeout and Gardner buried a 3-pointer with 23 seconds left to give the Huskies a four-point lead (67-63). Blake added two free throws for the final six-point margin.

"Our players found a way to fight through some fatigue and pick up a big win," Cameron said. "Kylie was really tough. She played a lot of minutes and had to play through some very good defense. Everybody played solid and sound tonight. Findlay is a good team and we're happy to come away with this win."

Tech twice held a nine-point lead in the second half but Findlay chipped away, going on an 11-2 run to tie it at 49 with 11:22 remaining. The home team then took the lead (60-59) and led by as many as four (63-59) with 4:37 to go.

Moxley and Blake each finished with a double-double. Moxley scored a game-high 19 points and had 13 rebounds while Blake added 12 points and 10 boards.

Albi scored a season-high 15 points while Mackenzie Perttu chipped in with 12 and Gardner added nine.

"Paige usually flies under the radar in the stats but her job is rebounding and she is the best rebounder on our team," Cameron added. "She brings so much energy and was just awesome tonight."

The Huskies scored 15 of their 22 field goals in the first half and made seven 3-pointers in the opening 20 minutes of play, leading 41-35 at the break.

Tech finished the game shooting 39 percent (22-of-57) from the field and 9-for-22 (41 percent) from beyond the arc. The Huskies made 16-of-20 (80 percent) from the free throw line and out-rebounded the Oilers 45-35.

Findlay was led by Lacey Kessler (15) and Karli Beasley (12) in scoring and finished shooting 29 percent from the floor. The Oilers shot 34 free throws, making 26 of them.

The Huskies wrap-up their first GLIAC road trip on Saturday (Dec. 14) at Hillsdale. Tipoff is set for 4:30 p.m., following the men's game.