Women's Basketball Welcomes No. 10 Concordia Friday

THIS WEEK'S NOTES

DEFENSE WINS OPENER
The Huskies defeated Minnesota Duluth on opening day last Saturday (Nov. 15) by a 59-58 score with the help of some big defensive plays. Considering neither team scored in the final 52 seconds, Tech's defense was critical. Jillian Ritchie blocked a shot with 13 seconds left, Morgan Anderson tapped a ball away on a drive with three ticks remaining, and Danielle Blake stole an inbounds pass with 1.8 showing to earn the victory. Senior Jillian Ritchie led the Huskies with 14 points and seven rebounds.

HUSKIES VS. GOLDEN BEARS
Michigan Tech and Concordia-St. Paul will meet for the sixth consecutive year when the teams collide at the SDC Gym Friday (Nov. 21). The Huskies own a 4-2 series lead with three straight victories including an 83-81 triumph a year ago in the Twin Cities. Kylie Moxley scored the game winner with four seconds left as part of a 20-point outing for the Huskies. Concordia's last win over Tech came in 2010 by a 78-70 margin. The Golden Bears have not won a game in Houghton in two previous tries.

PRESEASON ACCOLADES
Both Danielle Blake and Mackenzie Perttu were selected to preseason All-GLIAC teams in voting by the GLIAC Coaches. Blake averaged 13.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game in 2013-14 en route to All-GLIAC First Team and GLIAC All-Tournament Team honors. Perttu led the Huskies in scoring a year ago with a 15.4 average. She was also an All-GLIAC First Team pick.

HEISE SCORES 11 IN FIRST CAREER START
Sophomore Brenna Heise started and played 36 minutes of Tech's opener at Minnesota Duluth. The  5-11 guard made 5-of-8 field goals to post 11 points. She also had three rebounds and three blocks.

STARTERS BACK FOR THE HUSKIES
Michigan Tech returns all five of its starters and nine total letterwinners from last year's team that compiled a 19-9 record. Center Kylie Moxley, forwards Jillian Ritchie and Danielle Blake and guards Mackenzie Perttu and Kerry Gardner are all back for the Huskies.

GETTING HEALTHY
All 14 Huskies were available for the opener in Duluth after several missed time in the preseason with injury. Two of those are Kylie Moxley and Mackenzie Perttu, who are two of Tech's top returning scorers. Neither started last Saturday (Nov. 15) but both played and contributed.

QUICK HITTERS
• Tech has made four appearances in the NCAA Elite Eight. Its most recent was in 2010-11, when it finished as national runner-up.
• Tech finished the 2013-14 season ranked third in the nation in fewest turnovers per game (12.1).
• Tech was 12-2 in 2013-14 when scoring 70 or more points.
• Tech was 12-1 in 2013-14 when out-rebounding its opponent.

CHAMPIONSHIP PEDIGREE
The Michigan Tech women's basketball program owns 12 GLIAC North Division titles, five GLIAC Tournament championships and four NCAA Midwest Region crowns in its 39 previous seasons of intercollegiate women's basketball.

NEXT UP
Michigan Tech will remain at home for its next game, a Nov. 29 matchup vs. Minnesota State. The Huskies haven't played the Mavericks since the 2010 NCAA Elite Eight. The game is slated for 2 p.m. on the Saturday following Thanksgiving.

ACADEMIC STANDARD
The women's basketball team has been ranked in the top 25 nationally in team grade point average each of the last eight years including six top 10 finishes. The Huskies were 24th in Division II in 2013-14 with a 3.522 combined team GPA. Tech held the highest GPA of all NCAA divisions in 2010 (3.732).