Huskies Set to Open Postseason Tuesday against Ohio Dominican

Michigan Tech Game Notes (PDF)

Tues., Feb. 28 • 5:30 p.m. (ET) vs Ohio Dominican

Michigan Tech (19-7, 15-6 GLIAC) vs Ohio Dominican (18-9, 13-7 GLIAC)

REGULAR SEASON IN THE BOOKS

Michigan Tech closed the regular season in impressive fashion with a 72-37 victory over rival Northern Michigan Thursday night in the SDC Wood Gym. The Huskies generated a 15-2 run at the outset of the contest and held the Wildcats to single digit point totals in the three of the four quarters. Tech won the first quarter 23-8 and secured the momentum which was never relinquished. Redshirt junior Brenna Heise and senior Morgan Anderson powered the Huskies with 17 points, with each player connecting on 50 percent or more of their field goals. Heise matched a season and career high with three triples and led the team on the boards with seven rebounds. Anderson recorded six rebounds and had a game high eight assists. Sophomore Michelle LaFave added a career high 10 points after going 5 of 7 from the field and junior Lindsay Winter rounded out the double digit scorers with 10 points for Tech. Nine different players put up points for the Huskies in Thursday's win.

LAFAVE REACHES NEW CAREER HIGHS

Sophomore forward Michelle LaFave recorded new career highs in points and blocked shots against Northern Michigan in the regular season finale on Thursday night. LaFave was 5 of 7 from the field  on her way to 10 points. She also grabbed four rebounds and had three of Tech's 10 blocked shots in the contest. LaFave's previous career best in points was seven, which she accomplished twice this season.

TECH RANKED 6TH IN LATEST NCAA DIVISION II REGION POLL

Michigan Tech remained at No. 6 in the latest NCAA Division II Midwest Region Poll, announced  this past Wednesday by the national office. The Huskies continue to be one of five teams to represent the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in this week's edition of the rankings. Ashland stays at No. 1 followed by Saginaw Valley State at No. 3, Michigan Tech is No. 6, Grand Valley State checks in at No. 7, and Ohio Dominican is No. 10. The top eight teams in the region following the final poll advanace to the NCAA Midwest Regional Tournament. The next poll will be released this coming Wednesday.

GLIAC STATISTICAL RANKINGS

Michigan Tech remains in the top four of the GLIAC statistical rankings in multiple categories. The Huskies lead the conference in fewest turnovers per game (11.3), are first in blocks per game (5.4), third in field goals made per game (26.4), third in points allowed per game (59.5), second in field goal percentage (44.3), third in three-point percentage (37.3), and third in free throw percentage (78.1). Kelliher leads the conference in blocks per game at 2.8 and is third in field goal shooting percentage (56.3%). 

LAST TIME VS OHIO DOMINICAN

The Huskies and Panthers last met back on December 10th in Columbus, Ohio in game number eight of the season. Tech prevailed on that Saturday 75-59 and it was a quick 10-0 start for the Huskies that set the tone for the rest of the contest. Anderson guided the Huskies with 18 points and seven rebounds. Heise followed with 17 points and five boards while redshirt junior Kelli Guy rounded out the double digit scorers with 15 points, six rebounds, four assists, and four steals. Winter chipped in eight points and junior Hannah Stoll posted seven points and seven rebounds. The victory for Tech bumped their all-time series record with Ohio Dominican to 7-0.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION

Ohio Dominican (18-9, 13-7 GLIAC) is the No. 5 seed in the GLIAC Tournament and has won two straight games coming into the postseason. The Panthers defeated Lake Erie on the road Thursday night 94-72 in the regular season finale and prior to that topped Hillsdale 94-86 on February 18th. Ohio Dominican is second in the GLIAC in points per game (73.4). field goals made per game (27.2), field goals attempted per game (65.1), and free throw percentage (80.1). The Panthers like to get up and down the floor to create points in transition. Senior guard Lauren Bates powers the offense with a 12.3 points per game scoring average followed closely by senior forward Madi Rittinger at 11.7 points each time she takes the floor. Rittinger is knocking down 53.5% of her field goal attempts and also paces the Panthers on the glass with 6.6 rebounds per game. Junior guard Darian Rose averages 9.3 points and is second in the GLIAC in three-point shooting percentage (47.2). The ODU defense is surrendering 67.9 ppg to opponents in 2016-17.

COACH CAMERON

Kim Cameron is in her seventh season at Michigan Tech in 2016-17 and is the first Division II head coach in Tech history to lead a team to a national title game appearance (2011). Tech's historic run through the NCAA Tournament came just months after Cameron was appointed to the position on June 17, 2010. The 2011 and 2015 GLIAC and 2011 WBCA Midwest Region Coach of the Year has accumulated 138 wins in her first six seasons on the job. Her winning percentage (.780) is the best of any coach in the program's history, a list that includes three Michigan Tech Sports Hall of Famers (Cheryl DePuydt, Kevin Borseth and Darla Olson). She has guided the Huskies to the GLIAC Tournament all seven seasons.

NEXT UP

If Tech wins, they will advance to the GLIAC semifinals on Saturday. Game time, opponent, and place to be determined.