PREVIEW: Huskies Return Home to Face Purdue Northwest and Parkside
Michigan Tech Game Notes (PDF)
Thurs. Feb. 6 • 5:30 p.m. vs Purdue Northwest • Sat. Feb. 8 • 12 p.m. vs Parkside
Michigan Tech (7-13, 5-8 GLIAC) vs Purdue Northwest (6-15, 5-8 GLIAC) and Parkside (12-9, 9-4 GLIAC)
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
2019-20 WEEK 12 IN REVIEW
Michigan Tech struggled last week on the road, falling in two Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contests at Northwood 62-50 and Saginaw Valley State 85-77. The Huskies currently own an overall record of 7-13 and 5-8 in the GLIAC heading into a pair of home games for Winter Carnival this weekend. Tech hosts Purdue Northwest Thursday at 5:30 p.m. followed by a 12 p.m. eastern time tip-off against Parkside on Saturday.
In last Thursday's game at Northwood, senior Michelle LaFave powered the Huskies with a career high 20 points, finding the target on 8 of 11 shots from the field, which included two triples. LaFave also hauled down five rebounds, dished out an assist, and blocked one shot. LaFave's previous career high was 17 points against Ashland on January 4, 2018. Sophomore Ellie Mackay followed with 10 points and three assists while Hobson added eight points, five rebounds, and matched a season high with three blocked shots. As a team, the Huskies made 20 of 53 shots from the field (37.7%), were 3 for 14 from three-point range (21.4%), and 7 of 8 at the free throw line (87.5%).
Senior Abbie Botz guided the Huskies Saturday against the Cardinals with a team high 21 points and 10 rebounds on the way to her fifth double-double of the season. Junior Baillie McGirk followed with a season high 12 points off the bench, senior Hannah Hobson and junior Cassidy Trotter finished with 11 points each, and Mackay rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points. Trotter wrapped up the afternoon with four assists and four steals. As a team, the Huskies made 30 of 64 shots from the field (46.9%), were 6 of 18 from three-point range (33.3%), and 11 of 13 at the free throw line (84.6%). Tech scored 13 points off of 20 SVSU turnovers and logged 46 points in the paint.
STRONG PLAY IN THE POST
Senior forwards Michelle LaFave and Abbie Botz each had big games this past week for the Huskies. LaFave, who hails from Escanaba, Michigan, powered Tech with a career high 20 points, hauled down five rebounds, distributed an assist, and blocked one shot. LaFave's previous career high was 17 points against Ashland on January 4, 2018. Botz, who is from Little Chute, Wisconsin, recorded her fifth double-double of the season and a season high 21 points on Saturday at Saginaw Valley State. Botz had 10 rebounds and earlier this season equaled her career high in that stat category with 17 boards against Lake Superior State on January 16 in Houghton. Her career scoring high of 22 points was posted against the Cardinals on February 6, 2019 at the SDC gym.
GLIAC STATISTICAL RANKINGS
The Huskies are now 20 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 (13.3). Tech is seventh in successful three-point baskets per contest (6.5) and sixth in three-point shooting percentage (31.4). The Huskies check in at No. 1 in free throw shooting percentage at 80.8 percent. Tech is fifth in the GLIAC in steals per game (8.3) and fourth in blocked shots per game (3.5). Trotter is currently ranked 18th in the GLIAC in scoring at 12.2 points per game with Botz holding the No. 6 spot in the conference in rebounds per game (8.1). Trotter enters this weekend sixth in the GLIAC in assists per game at 3.7 while ranking second in the GLIAC with a 2.9 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
Purdue Northwest is 6-15 overall, but has had some success in the GLIAC with a conference mark of 5-8 coming into Thursday's game against the Huskies. The Pride are coming off a 75-72 victory at home against Davenport on Saturday. The Pride rank third in the GLIAC in fewest turnovers per game at 13.9 through 21 contests. Purdue Northwest is averaging 57.4 points per game while surrendering 66.5 points per game to opponents in 2019-20. Savaya Brockington paces the Pride with a 13.1 points per game scoring average followed by Anjel Galbraith at 10.0 points per game. Brockington also holds the team lead in rebounds per game at 4.8 each time she takes the floor. Thursday's game in the SDC Gym will be the second meeting between the two clubs this season. Tech defeated Purdue Northwest 75-55 on the road January 11 in the first showdown. Trotter powered Tech with 17 points, a career high 10 rebounds, and four assists, giving her the double-double. Hobson also had 17 points and five rebounds followed by Botz with nine points and three boards. Freshman Kyle Mogen had a season high eight points and five rebounds.
Parkside is 12-9 overall and tied for first in the GLIAC North Division with a record of 9-4 against conference teams. The Rangers lost at home to Grand Valley State 82-49 last Saturday, but have won two of their last three games, including 64-55 and 84-79 triumphs over Lake Superior State and Davenport. The Rangers rank second in the GLIAC in three-point baskets made per game at 9.3 and are fourth in assists per contest with 16.6. They are also fourth in the conference in scoring at 72.2 points per game, but give up 76.2 points per game to opponents this season. Alyssa Nelson guides the Rangers in scoring at 14.3 points per game and rebounds at 4.9. She is followed by Taylor Stephen at 12.9 points per game while Carolina Rahkonen adds 12.1 points per game to the stat sheet for Parkside. The Rangers defeated Tech 81-73 on January 9 in the first meeting of the season between the two teams. Mackay paced the Huskies with 21 points and had three steals on the defensive end of the floor followed by Hobson with 20 points and eight rebounds. Trotter tacked on 17 points and hauled down seven rebounds while Botz notched a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
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 go back on the road next week to play Ferris State and Lake Superior State for the second time this season. The Bulldogs are 15-6 overall and 9-4 in the GLIAC as they get set to host Saginaw Valley State and Northwood. The Lakers are 6-14 overall and 2-11 in the conference as they play host to Northwood and Saginaw Valley State as well.