Women's Basketball faces Purdue Northwest this week

HOUGHTON, Mich. – Following a quarterfinal loss last season, the 2020-21 Michigan Tech women's basketball team has been back on the court preparing for play in the extremely competitive Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Head coach Sam Hoyt engineers this year's effort to reclaim the top of the north division after the team finished fourth in 2019-20 with a record of 9-11 (11-17 overall). The coaching staff expressed optimism for the new campaign, backed by a roster including two top returning scorers and a heavy serving of young talent from the states of Michigan and Wisconsin. Senior guard Cassidy Trotter and junior guard Ellie Mackay will be flanked by returning sophomores Sara Dax, Katelyn Meister, and Kylie Mogen as well as five freshmen looking to make an immediate impression.

Just two years ago, Hoyt and assistant coach Elisa Jurmu guided the Huskies to the GLIAC semi-finals in their first season at the helm. Michigan Tech went 16-4 (21-9 overall) in 2017-18 and six student-athletes who experienced that success remain on the squad today. It will be up to them to lead the pursuit for a storied program with 16 GLIAC titles in its history. The Huskies were chosen to finish second in this year's pre-season coaches' poll in the north division with two first place votes. Ferris State received six first place votes to take the top spot.

The team tips off 2021 with back-to-back road contests at Purdue Northwest this week. Friday's game is scheduled for 7 p.m. eastern while Saturday's matinee begins at 4 p.m.

GLIAC Women's Pre-season Coaches' Poll Release

TROTTER AND MACKAY RETURN: Cassidy Trotter enters her senior outing after posting her best season yet as a Husky. The Beaver Dam, Wisconsin native led Tech in scoring thanks to her 12.3 points per game output and 25 starts. She earned all-GLIAC second team honors and was also named GLIAC north division player of the week. Trotter finished fourth in the conference in free throw percentage (85-percent), sixth in assists per game (3.7 APG), and fourth in steals per game (2.8). Trotter also compiled an impressive 25-point tally against Ashland on January 4 and reeled in 10 rebounds against Purdue Northwest.

In addition to offensive output, Trotter is also a reliable defender (2018-19 all-GLIAC defensive team) and an excellent student. She was awarded the GLIAC commissioner's award for her outstanding grade point average and remains a role model for younger players on the roster. Trotter has 58 games and 45 starts in a Husky uniform.

Like Trotter, Ellie Mackay was a second team all-conference honoree last season. The junior averaged 12.2 points, 2.2 boards, 2.1 assists, and 1.2 steals in 28 games for MTU. Mackay was an integral piece of the Huskies playoff run in 2018-19 and earned GLIAC freshman of the year. Mackay and Trotter anchor the defensive effort of the group.

Both Trotter and Mackay have been selected pre-season all-conference for the 2020-21 season.

HUSKIES STRENGTHS: The Huskies play stingy defense and despite injury setbacks last season, finished fifth in the GLIAC at 65.9 points against per game. The team also averaged 3.0 blocks and 7.4 steals per contest. Expect Michigan Tech to use their defense to pick up steals and score in transition using their quickness and athleticism.

Typically, shooting percentage is a strength of Michigan Tech basketball. Despite just nine GLIAC wins a year ago, the Huskies still shot over 40-percent from the field and 32-percent from beyond the arc. Hoyt intends to increase efficiency by filtering in players to the paint and establishing a larger post presence. Lanky freshman Mady Draak (6-foot-1, center) is slated as one option to compliment forwards Claire Barghahn (6-foot-3, sophomore), Sara Dax (6-foot-1, sophomore), Jordan Ludescher (6-foot-0, redshirt freshman), Kylie Mogen (6-foot-1, sophomore), and Lydia Schaible (6-foot-0, freshman).

MEET THE FRESHMEN: The Huskies have three starters to replace this season including Abbie Botz (9.2 PTS, 7.9 REB) Hannah Hobson (9.0 PTS, 2.9 REB), and Ellie Welsch (5.2 PTS, 2.6 REB). Five freshmen aim to fill the void. Draak, a Green Bay native, possesses vision passing out of the post and averaged 10 points and eight rebounds for Bay Port High School last season. She also assisted her school to the 2019 state championship.

Shooting guard Tessa Leece (Ishpeming, Michigan) is a capable defender with size and athleticism. At Westwood High School, she was Class ABC player of the year with 390 points, 145 rebounds, 99 assist, and 84 steals as a junior.

Also, from the upper peninsula, guard Aspen Michelin (Marquette, Michigan) was an all-great northern conference selection as a junior and averaged 10.3 points, three rebounds, and 3.2 assists at Marquette Senior High School. Hoyt described Michelin as a strong, versatile guard who makes great decisions with the ball and helps those around her get better.

Lydia Schaible (Green Bay, Wisconsin) is a forward who competed at Ashwaubenon High School, where she averaged 8.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game as a junior. She also dished out 53 assists and had 17 blocks a year ago. MTU may look to use her 6-foot-0-inch frame to work in the paint as well as in defensive situations.

Redshirt freshman Jordan Ludescher (Glen Flora, Wisconsin) showed promise in 2018-19 after posting 15 points and eight rebounds in the season opener against Ursuline. She appeared in six games before her debut was cut short due to injury. A medical redshirt delayed her return last season but the forward is nearing a third comeback try in 2020-21.

SIZING UP THE COMPETITION: Key graduation losses for top teams last season may assist Michigan Tech's chances this season. Each of the league's top-4 scorers have moved on, including guard Riley Blair, who led the conference with 21.1 points per game for Ferris State. With a record of 15-5 a year ago, Ferris State won the regular season north division and defeated the Huskies by less than 10 points in both of their head-to-head meetings.

At the stoppage of play in March, Ashland (south division) was still undefeated at 31-0 overall and ranked No. 2 in the nation by WBCA. The Eagles lost both offensive juggernauts, Sara Loomis (16.7 PPG) and Jodi Johnson (16.3 PPG) but they still have not lost a game since March 15, 2019 with excellent depth. Other GLIAC teams ranked in the Midwest region in March included Grand Valley State (No. 3), and Ferris State (No. 5).

RIVALRY RENEWED: Last season, the Huskies went 2-0 against Northern Michigan during the regular season. MTU decimated the Wildcats 68-28 in Houghton and allowed fewer points scored by NMU than any other game in the history of the rivalry. The Huskies never trailed and Trotter led the way with 21 points.

Two months later, the Wildcats were determined to defend Marquette but the Huskies snuck out the road victory 51-48 to punch their ticket to the conference tournament. The Huskies fought back from a 12-2 deficit and posted a 20-6 margin in the second quarter. They then held off a late push to grab the win. NMU finished the season one win better than Michigan Tech in the conference standings.

BY THE NUMBERS:

Returning Starters (2)   CL.        HT.       POS.     2019-20 STATS 

Cassidy Trotter              Jr.         5-7       G          12.3 PTS, 4.4 REB, 3.7 APG, 28 Starts

Ellie Mackay                 So.       5-6       G          12.2 PTS, 2.2 REB, 2.1 APG, 28 Starts

Other Returners (3)      CL.        HT.       POS.     2019-20 STATS 

Sara Dax                       So.       6-1       F          3.6 PTS, 3.0 REB, 0.8 APG, 27 Games

Katelyn Meister            So.       5-10     G          2.4 PTS, 1.6 REB, 0.5 APG, 24 Games

Kylie Mogen                 So.       6-1       F          1.8 PTS, 1.6 REB, 0.2 APG, 22 Games

2019-20 Record: 11-17, 9-11 GLIAC (4^th place, GLIAC North Division)

Newcomers: 5

Redshirts: 0

Key losses: 3 (Abbie Botz, Hannah Hobson, Ellie Welsch)

First year of Basketball: 1975-76

Head coach Sam Hoyt all-time record: 32-26 (.552)

NCAA Appearances: 19

GLIAC Titles: 16

GLIAC Quarterfinal 2019-20: Lost 65-34, Grand Valley State