Huskies Defeat UW-Parkside for Fifth Straight Win

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• HIGHLIGHTS
• COACH CAMERON INTERVIEW
• MACKENZIE PERTTU INTERVIEW

HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Tech women's basketball team extended its winning streak to five games with an 80-67 win over UW-Parkside on Saturday (Dec. 21) afternoon from the SDC Gym. Mackenzie Perttu and Kerry Gardner each scored a career-high as the Huskies had four players in double figures in their final non-conference game.

"It was a huge win for us, especially an in-region win," Tech coach Kim Cameron said. "I'm excited to be headed into the break with this win and streak."

Tech (6-2) took its final lead of the game with 6:35 remaining after Kelcey Traynoff nailed a corner 3-point in front of the Tech bench to make it 59-57. Jillian Ritchie and Perttu each made 1-of-2 from the free throw line on the next two possessions for a 61-57 lead.

Perttu then nailed a jumper—as the shot clock expired—to give Tech a six-point lead (68-62) with 1:58 left, and the Huskies made 12 free throws in the final minute and a half to build the lead to 13 at the buzzer, their largest of the game.

Perttu scored 23 points on 7-for-15 shooting, including 6-for-7 from the free throw line. She also had four rebounds and four assists. Gardner tallied 15 points with 11 of them coming from the charity stripe.

"Mackenzie seemed to have a different attitude and aggressiveness today," Cameron added. "She went to the basket with a purpose and was out there to prove something.

"Kerry is so steady. She played 40 minutes and just doesn't turn the ball over. Her free throws were big at the end too."

Kylie Moxley scored 15 points for the third game in a row, making 6-of-8 from the field, and added five rebounds and two assists. Ritchie was also in double figures with 10 points.

"Getting Kylie the ball has been a big emphasis all season," said Cameron. "Anytime she touched it to day she scored, especially in the first half. She drew a lot of double teams in the second half."

Tech shot 44 percent from the field in the game and made 20 more free throws than the Rangers. The Huskies had 14 assists on 23 made field goals and forced 15 turnovers.

Rangers took a 10-3 lead early in the first half and led by as many as nine (16-7) with 12:44 left before the break. The Huskies battled to within three after 3-pointers by Ritchie and Traynoff, and Moxley made a couple of free throws to knot it up at 28 with 3:14 remaining in the opening half.

Parkside (4-4) shot 57 percent in the first half and led 37-35 at the break. Moxley and Perttu each had 10 points for Tech.

The Rangers were led by Danielle Slivka with a game-high 26 points. Tara Knapstein (15) and Gaby Bronson (12) were also in double figures for the visitors. UWP shot 43 percent from the floor and out-rebounded Tech 38-34.

The Huskies are off until the first weekend of the New Year when they host Ohio Dominican (Jan. 2) and Tiffin (Jan. 4) in a pair of GLIAC games.