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Posted: Dec 11, 2019

PREVIEW: Huskies Host Rival Northern Michigan Sunday

Cassidy Trotter dribbling the ball

Michigan Tech Game Notes (PDF)
Sun. Dec. 15 • 1 p.m. vs Northern Michigan
Michigan Tech (3-6, 1-1 GLIAC) vs Northern Michigan (5-5, 2-0 GLIAC)
 GRIT TV WLUC-DT3 (Mark Evans and Dave Ellis)
Radio: Mix93 FM WKMJ (Mitch Lake)
Video Stream: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/mtu/
 Audio Stream: Pasty.net
Live Stats: https://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/wbkb/2019-20/schedule

 WEEK 5 IN REVIEW
 Michigan Tech split two Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contests to begin the league portion of the schedule last weekend. The Huskies suffered a tough 60-59 loss to Saginaw Valley State on Thursday, but bounced back with an impressive 69-46 victory against Northwood on Saturday afternoon. In Saturday's win, the Huskies never trailed, completely taking the Timberwolves out of any kind of rhythm.

Against Saginaw Valley State, sophomore Ellie Mackay powered the Huskies with 18 points, connecting on 7 of 14 shots from the field, which included four makes from behind the three-point arc. She also added three assists and a pair of steals to the stat sheet. Senior's Hannah Hobson and Michelle LaFave each followed with 10 points while junior Cassidy Trotter added nine points, six assists, and four steals. Senior Abbie Botz chipped in eight points and had a game high 13 rebounds.

The Huskies were led once again by Mackay in the showdown with the Timberwolves on Saturday. She poured in a game high 19 points while grabbing three rebounds and dishing out four assists. Hobson posted 12 points and had a season high seven rebounds to go along with three blocked shots. Botz added nine points and Trotter finished the contest with eight points and a team high eight rebounds and six assists.

MACKAY NAMED GLIAC NORTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK
 Michigan Tech sophomore guard Ellie Mackay has been named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference North Division Player of the Week, announced Monday by the conference office. Mackay had a solid two games for the Huskies in their conference openers against Saginaw Valley State and Northwood.

Mackay, who hails from Novi, Michigan, averaged 18.5 points per game for the week, including a 19-point performance in a 69-46 win over Northwood on Saturday. Mackay opened the week with 18 points against Saginaw Valley State on Thursday night. Mackay connected on 53.3 percent of her shots from the field and went 5 of 12 from behind the arc combined for the two contests. She also dished out a combined seven assists and hauled down four rebounds while collecting two steals. Mackay leads the Huskies in scoring this season at 13.7 points per game while reeling in 2.3 rebounds and dishing out 1.2 assists each time she takes the floor.

GLIAC STATISTICAL RANKINGS
 The Huskies are now nine 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 (12.1). Tech is seventh in successful three-point baskets per contest (6.9) and fifth in three-point attempts this per game this season (23.0). The Huskies also check in at No. 3 in free throw shooting percentage at 75.9 percent. Mackay is currently ranked 10th in the GLIAC in scoring at 13.7 points per game with Botz ninth in the conference in rebounds per game (6.9). Trotter enters this weekend fifth in the GLIAC in assists per game at 4.1 while leading the GLIAC with a 3.3 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
 Northern Michigan is 5-5 overall and 2-0 in the GLIAC going into Sunday's meeting with the Huskies at the SDC Gym. The Wildcats won both of their games last weekend and have been victorious in four of their last six outings. Northern Michigan held back Northwood 55-47 and Saginaw Valley State 56-53 to start the GLIAC schedule. The Wildcats traditionally have one of the top defenses in the conference and that is once again the case this season. Northern Michigan is ranked second in the conference in both fewest points allowed per game (57.8) and opponents' field goal percentage (37.4%). The Wildcats are also fifth in the GLIAC in rebound margin per game with a positive 2.6. Northern Michigan is averaging 51.7 points per game while connecting on 36.6 percent of their field goal attempts in 2019-20.

Forward Erin Honkala leads the Northern Michigan offense with a 10.6 points per game scoring average coming into Sunday's game. Honkala also hauls down a team best 7.4 rebounds per game and converts 43.8 percent of her shots from the field. The Wildcats are strong in the post with center Jessica Schultz chipping in 9.8 points per game and 5.7 rebounds per night. Guard Amber Huebner dishes out a team best 2.1 assists each time she takes the floor.

Northern Michigan leads the all-time series 53-47, but the Huskies have won five in a row against the Wildcats, including the 2018-19 season finale on February 28 in Houghton 60-55. The Huskies claimed their 16th GLIAC North/Conference title and locked down the No.3 seed in the conference tournament that night. Tech won the first showdown between the two programs last season 55-53 in Marquette. The Wildcats most recent win was a 66-55 decision in Marquette on January 20, 2017.

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 continue their homestand in the New Year when they host Wayne State University and Ashland University on January 2 and January 4 respectively. The Warriors are currently 6-2 overall and 1-1 in the GLIAC while Ashland checks in with a 7-0 overall record with a 2-0 mark in conference play. Ashland and Wayne State collide on Saturday in Ashland.