PREVIEW: Huskies Visit Grand Valley State and Davenport

Michigan Tech Game Notes (PDF)
Thurs. Jan. 23 • 6:00 p.m. at Grand Valley State • Sat. Jan. 25 • 1 p.m. at Davenport
Michigan Tech (7-9, 5-4 GLIAC) at Grand Valley St. (16-1, 8-1 GLIAC) and Davenport (5-12, 0-9 GLIAC)
Radio: Mix93 FM WKMJ (Kirk McDonnell)
Video Stream: https://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/wbkb/2019-20/schedule
Audio Stream: Pasty.net
Live Stats: https://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/wbkb/2019-20/schedule

2019-20 WEEK 10 IN REVIEW
Michigan Tech split two Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference games this past week against Lake Superior State and Ferris State. The Huskies topped the Lakers 62-52 on Thursday night and suffered a tough overtime loss to the Bulldogs 80-73 in overtime on Saturday. Tech enters this week with an overall record of 7-9 and 5-4 in the GLIAC. The Huskies are tied for third in the North Division standings with Northern Michigan.

In Thursday's victory, junior Cassidy Trotter paced the Huskies with 20 points while adding six steals, four assists, and four rebounds to the stat sheet in Thursday's win. Senior Abbie Botz tossed in 14 points and matched a career high with 17 rebounds. It's the third time she has been able to accomplish that feat during her career at Tech. Junior Baillie McGirk chipped in nine points off the bench and had a pair of blocked shots. The Huskies converted on 21 of 58 shots from the field (36.2%), were 6 of 18 from behind the arc (33.3%), and 14 for 18 at the free throw line (77.8%). Tech combined for 12 assists and committed only nine turnovers compared to the Lakers who were forced into 19 miscues. The Huskies took advantage and turned them into 23 points on the offensive end of the floor.

On Saturday, Botz powered the Huskies with 17 points and 15 rebounds for another double-double. Sophomore Ellie Mackay followed with 15 points, Hobson tossed in 12 points, and Trotter chipped in 10 points and six assists. The Huskies made 30 of 79 shots from the field (38.0%), were 6 of 27 from three-point range (22.2%), and 7 of 9 at the free throw line (77.8%). Tech posted 27 points off of 18 Ferris State turnovers and recorded 42 points in the paint.

BOTZ STRONG IN WEEK 10
Michigan Tech senior forward Abbie Botz guided the Huskies with two outstanding games this past week. Botz began the week with 14 points and matched a career high with 17 rebounds in the victory over Lake Superior State Thursday. Botz has now secured 17 rebounds in a game three times during her four-year career at Tech. Botz followed up with 17 points and had 15 more rebounds in Saturday's overtime battle with Ferris State at the SDC Gym. It was her fourth double-double of the 2019-20 season and the fifth time she has generated 13 or more rebounds in a game this year. Botz goes into this week's games at Grand Valley State and Davenport averaging 9.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game through 16 contests. Botz ranks fifth in the GLIAC statistical rankings for rebounds.

GLIAC STATISTICAL RANKINGS
The Huskies are now 16 games into the 2019-20 season and they rank near the top of the conference in a number of statistical categories. The Huskies are first in the conference in fewest turnovers per game (12.8). Tech is seventh in successful three-point baskets per contest (6.9) and fifth in three-point shooting percentage (32.6). The Huskies also check in at No. 2 in free throw shooting percentage at 80.1 percent. Tech is fourth in the GLIAC in steals per game (8.8) and fourth in blocked shots per game (3.6). Trotter is currently ranked 11th in the GLIAC in scoring at 13.5 points per game with Botz moving up to 5th in the conference in rebounds per game (8.6). Trotter enters this weekend fourth in the GLIAC in assists per game at 4.3 while leading the GLIAC with a 3.1 steals per game average.

GLIAC PRESEASON POLL
Michigan Tech was selected to finish first in the GLIAC North Division this year when the coaches' preseason poll was announced Thursday by the conference office. Tech earned 58 points in the poll along with eight first place votes, edging out Northern Michigan who was picked second with 53 points and four first place votes. Ferris State checked in at the No. 3 spot in the North Division with 40 points followed by Parkside with 32 points (No. 4), Lake Superior State had 19 points (No. 5), and Purdue Northwest was issued 14 points (No. 6). Over in the South Division, Grand Valley State holds the No. 1 spot with 61 points and 11 first place votes followed by Ashland University with 51 points and one first place vote. Northwood checks in at No. 3 with 38 points, Wayne State is fourth with 30 points, Davenport lands in the No. 5 spot with 20 points, and Saginaw Valley State is sixth with 16 points.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Grand Valley State boasts an overall record of 16-1 and 8-1 in the GLIAC entering Thursday's game against the Huskies. The Lakers, who are ranked 3rd in the latest WBCA Top 25 Poll, suffered their only loss of the year in a 77-68 decision at Ashland on January 9. Grand Valley State has won three in a row, including a 57-42 triumph at Saginaw Valley State this past Saturday. The Lakers' defense leads the conference in fewest points per game allowed (50.6), opponent's field goal percentage (32.5%), and blocks per game (6.9). They are also out-rebounding opponents by 12.0 boards per night, tops in the GLIAC so far this season. The offense ranks third in scoring at 77.4 points per game and is second in the league in field goals made each time out (29.4). Center Cassidy Boensch powers the Lakers' offense in scoring with a 20.4 points per game scoring average, due in large part to making 61.4 percent of her field goals. She averages nearly a double-double per game with a 9.1 rebounds per contest average. Maddie Dailey and Jenn DeBoer follow with 14.0 and 11.4 points per game scoring averages. Michigan Tech leads the all-time series with Grand Valley State 48-31.

Davenport is 5-12 overall and still searching for win No. 1 in the GLIAC, owning a conference record of 0-9 going into a Thursday game with Northern Michigan. The Panthers last win came against NAIA Cornerstone 97-47 on December 18. Davenport leads the GLIAC in field goal attempts per game (68.0) and steals per game (12.9) through 17 contests in 2019-20. The Panthers crash the boards hard and reel in 14.2 offensive rebounds per game, second best in the GLIAC for that statistical category. Davenport is averaging 72.4 points per game, but allowing 73.2 points per game to opponents. Madison Jones is the top scorer on the club with a 17.6 points per game average. She is followed by Toni Grace at 16.1 points per game and Jenna Falkenberg with a 13.1 points per game scoring average. Falkenberg is the leading rebounder through 17 games, reeling in 7.9 boards per contest in 2019-20. The Huskies are 4-0 against the Panthers all-time and each victory has been by double digits.

COACH HOYT
Sam Hoyt was named as the ninth head coach of the Michigan Tech women's basketball program, Director of Athletics Suzanne Sanregret announced Tuesday (May 29, 2018). Hoyt returns to Tech from the University of Sioux Falls where she served as an assistant coach. Hoyt was a standout player for the Huskies, helping lead the program to the 2011 NCAA Division II National Championship game as well as garnering multiple individual awards, including All-American Honorable Mention honors. In her first season at Tech (2018-19), Hoyt guided the Huskies to a 21-9 overall record and a 16-4 mark in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Huskies claimed their 16th GLIAC North Division/Conference title last season and were the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament.

NEXT UP
The Huskies remain on the road next week when they head south to play Northwood and Saginaw Valley State. The Timberwolves are 4-13 overall and 2-7 in the GLIAC going into games at Ashland and Wayne State this week. The Cardinals are 8-9 overall and 4-5 in the conference as they venture to Wayne State and Ashland this week as well.