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Posted: Mar 02, 2020

PREVIEW: Huskies at Grand Valley State for GLIAC Quarterfinal

Hannah Hobson attempting a shot

Michigan Tech Game Notes (PDF)
Tues. Mar. 3 • 6:00 p.m. at Grand Valley State
Michigan Tech (11-16) at Grand Valley State (26-2)
 Radio: 920 AM and 107.3 FM WMPL (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 16 IN REVIEW
 Michigan Tech kept the 2019-20 season going with a 51-48 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win Thursday night at rival Northern Michigan. The Huskies outscored the Wildcats 20-6 in the second quarter and held on at the end to advance to the GLIAC Tournament starting Tuesday.

Trailing 20-17 with 5:41 left in the second frame, the Huskies proceeded to engineer a 10-0 scoring burst to grab a 27-20 advantage at halftime. Sophomore Ellie Mackay gave the Huskies their first lead of the evening at 21-20 on a jumper at the 2:56 mark and junior Cassidy Trotter would pick up the final six points in the last two minutes.

In the fourth quarter, Northern Michigan closed the gap to one point twice in the last three minutes, but Trotter and freshman Sara Dax came through with a jumper and free throws respectively. The Wildcats eventually had a chance to tie it in the closing seconds, but a triple from Kuhn went off target and senior Abbie  Botz was there to secure the defensive rebound for the Huskies and run out the clock to preserve the 51-48 victory.

Mackay and Trotter each guided the Huskies with 14 points followed by Botz with eight points, five rebounds, and three steals. Senior Michelle LaFave chipped in four points, four rebounds, and had a team best two assists. Tech made 17 of 47 shots from the field (36.2%), were 1 for 8 from behind the arc (12.5%), and 16 of 18 at the free throw line (88.9%). The Huskies produced 14 points off of 13 Northern Michigan miscues while delivering 24 points in the paint.

DEFENSE IS KEY
 Solid defense has been the key in Michigan Tech's wins this season. Going into the GLIAC Tournament, the Huskies are 10-3 with they hold opponents below 40 percent shooting from the field and are 10-5 when they limit teams to under 70 points in a contest. Quick starts have also been sparked by defense and when the Huskies lead at halftime in games this year, they are 11-1 coming into the postseason.

GLIAC TOURNAMENT
 Michigan Tech enters the GLIAC Tournament as the No. 7 seed in this year's field. The Huskies travel to the No. 2 seed Grand Valley State in the quarterfinals Tuesday night in Allendale, Michigan. Ashland (No. 1 seed), Ferris State (No. 3 seed), Parkside (No. 4 seed), Northern Michigan (No. 5 seed), Wayne State (No. 6 seed), and Saginaw Valley State (No. 8 seed) round out the tournament field. The highest remaining seed following the quarterfinal round will host the GLIAC Final Four this Saturday and Sunday.

GLIAC STATISTICAL RANKINGS
 The Huskies are now 27 games into the 2019-20 season and they rank near the top of the conference in a number of statistical categories. The Huskies are third in the conference in fewest turnovers per game (14.1). Tech is sixth in successful three-point baskets per contest (6.6) and fifth in three-point shooting percentage (32.5). The Huskies check in at No. 2 in free throw shooting percentage at 80.5 percent. Tech is fifth in the GLIAC in steals per game (8.2) and fourth in blocked shots per game (3.3). Trotter and Mackay are both ranked 16th in the GLIAC in scoring at 12.5 points per game with Botz holding the No. 6 spot in the conference in rebounds per game (7.9). Trotter enters this Tuesday's quarterfinal sixth in the GLIAC in assists per game at 3.7 while ranking second in the GLIAC with a 2.7 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 enters the GLIAC Tournament with an overall record of 26-2. The Lakers wrapped up the conference schedule with an 18-2 record and are the No. 2 seed in this year's tournament. Grand Valley States only two losses were to Ashland University, the No. 1 seed in the tournament. The Lakers have reeled off five consecutive victories heading into the postseason, including a 71-46 victory over Davenport this past Thursday night in the regular season finale. The Lakers' defense ranks first in the fewest points allowed per game (49.5), blocks per game (6.3), opponent's field goal percentage (32.5%), opponents' three-point field goal percentage (25.7%), and defensive rebounds per game (30.0). They are also out-rebounding clubs by nearly 11 boards per contest which is also tops in the conference. On offense, Grand Valley State checks in at No. 3 in the GLIAC in points per game at 73.1 and second in field goal percentage (47.0%). Cassidy Boensch leads the Lakers and is second in the conference in scoring coming into the tournament with a 20.1 points per game scoring average. She also paces the team and the conference in rebounding on the strength of a 9.2 boards per game average. Maddie Dailey follows with an 11.9 points per game scoring average while Jenn DeBoer dishes out 4.9 assists per night. The Huskies and Lakers met for the second time this season on February 22 in Houghton. The Huskies battled the Lakers to a 27-27 tie through 20 minutes before Grand Valley State put together a strong second half to pull away. Trotter paced the Huskies with 15 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and dished out four assists in the game. Botz followed with 14 points and hauled down a game high 12 rebounds. Tech leads the all-time series 48-33.

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
 If the Huskies defeat Grand Valley State Tuesday night they will advance to the GLIAC Final Four which will be hosted Saturday and Sunday by the highest remaining seed following the four quarterfinal contests.