PREVIEW: Dakotah Bank Classic up next for women’s basketball

HOUGHTON, Mich. – Looking to bounce back quickly from their first defeat of the season Saturday, Michigan Tech women's basketball is scheduled to play MSU-Moorhead and Northern State this week in the Dakotah Bank Classic as non-conference action continues. The Huskies face the Dragons on Friday, November 26 at 3 p.m. then the Wolves on Saturday, November 27 at 6 p.m. in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Fans can tune in Friday on Mix 93.5 FM and Saturday on AM 920 & FM 107.3 WMPL. 

LAST TIME OUT

Ending a three-game win streak to start the year, Michigan Tech women's basketball fell 67-50 to No. 18 University of Minnesota Duluth Saturday night at SDC Gymnasium. Brooke Olson totaled 17 points, a majority of which came in the paint and the Bulldogs limited the Huskies to under 33-percent shooting on their home court.

"They're a phenomenal team that is well coached," head coach Sam Clayton said of the Bulldogs. "Their defensive urgency was really good and forced us to make tough shots all night. Shots weren't falling for us either, which didn't help but they (UMD) also have some tremendous offensive threats, guards who can shoot, and posts that can get inside so we need to execute better if we want to win against a team like that. I think there is a ton to take from this game and learn from to get better as we move forward."

The Huskies committed eight turnovers in the first half and also were held off the free throw line in the opening 20 minutes. Conversely, Minnesota Duluth balanced their attack to take a 30-24 lead and shot 44-percent (12-27), including 31-percent (4-13) from 3-point range.

FOR THE HUSKIES

- The Huskies are 3-1 on the season. They split at home last weekend, beating Minnesota Crookston 65-57 before losing to No. 18 Minnesota Duluth 67-50. Ellie Mackay averages 14.0 points per game to lead the Huskies while Clara Johnson averages 9.5.

- Mackay averages 5.5 rebounds per game. Sam Clayton is in her fourth year as head coach at Michigan Tech with a record of 55-29.

SCOUTING MSU-MOORHEAD

-The Dragons began the season 0-2 after losses to Rogers State (85-63) and No. 6 Central Missouri (73-53) last weekend. Junior forward Peyton Boom leads the team in scoring with 15.0 points per game, followed by freshman guard Natalie Jens with 14.5 points per game and sophomore guard Mariah McKeever (10.5 ppg).

- Boom also leads the team in rebounds (6.0 rpg) while junior guard Natalie Steichen has the most assists (3.5 apg).

SCOUTING NORTHERN STATE

-The Wolves are 2-1 on the season after a 76-67 win over South Dakota Mines on Nov. 18. Sophomore guard Rianna Fillipi and senior forward Lexi Roe lead Northern at 14.7 points per game apiece while junior forward Laurie Rogers is at 12.0.

- Kailee Oliverson leads at 8.0 rebounds per game while Fillipi leads at 4.8 assists per game.  Paula Krueger is in her fourth season as head coach at Northern State with a record of 30-45.

REIGNING CHAMPS

- Michigan Tech women's basketball returns in 2021-22 as the reigning Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament champions. Head coach Sam Clayton begins her fourth season as head coach after capturing the GLIAC Regular Season North Division title and making a trip to the NCAA Midwest Region Semifinals.

- The Huskies bring a mix of experience and youth and are led in part by captains Ellie Mackay (Novi, Michigan), Jordan Ludescher (Glen Flora, Wisconsin), and Katelyn Meister (Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin). All three were integral starters and will share a heavy workload this season following the departure of seniors Baillie McGirk and Cassidy Trotter.

- Tech finished 20-2 overall, including 17-1 in the GLIAC and unseated perennial powerhouse Ashland in the conference championship 74-63. The Eagles got their revenge in Springfield, Missouri when they edged the Huskies 74-65 in the NCAA Tournament.

MEET THE CAPTAINS

- Mackay (Junior – Guard) earned WBCA Division II Honorable Mention All-America as well as GLIAC Player of the Year, GLIAC Tournament Most Valuable Player, and GLIAC Player of the Week. She started all 22 games and averaged 15.0 points per game with a career-high 31 points at Ferris State on January 30.

- She also scored the winning basket as time expired to help the Huskies overcome No. 9 Grand Valley State on the road. This will be Mackay's fourth season with the Huskies after she began as the GLIAC Freshman of the Year.

- Ludescher (Sophomore – Forward) returned following a redshirt season in fine form last winter and provided much of Michigan Tech's inside presence in the post. Ludescher started all 22 contests and averaged 13.4 points and a team-high 6.4 rebounds. She was named to the GLIAC All-Tournament Team, All-GLIAC Second Team, and GLIAC All-Academic Team. Ludescher also posted 22 points in the conference championship on March 7.

- Meister (Junior – Guard) started 18 games last season and averaged five points and five rebounds per game. She scored a season-high 13 points at Saginaw Valley State on February 6. Other notable returners with experience include junior Clara Johnson (Guard – Negaunee, Michigan), junior Sloane Zenner (Guard – Houghton, Michigan), sophomore Alex Rondorf (guard – sophomore), and redshirt freshman Sara Dax (forward – Kewaunee, Wisconsin).

FRESHMAN IMPRESSION

- Incoming true freshmen include six-foot guard Isabella Lenz (Prescott, Wisconsin) and 5-foot-7-inch guard Maryellen Trewhella (Houghton, Michigan).

- Last season, the Huskies ranked fourth in the conference in scoring (67.5 points), second in defense (56.6 points against), eighth in 3-point percentage (31.7-percent), and fifth in rebounds (36.0 rebounds). 

PRESEASON GLIAC POLL

- In the 2021 Preseason Coaches' Poll, the Huskies led the North with 56 points and eight first-place votes. Ferris State was slated second with 44 points and three first-place votes. Wisconsin Parkside (44), Northern Michigan (42), Purdue Northwest (23), and Lake Superior State (16) rounded out the North in spots three through six.

- Parkside senior guard Alyssa Nelson (New Belin, Wis.) was selected as the 2021-22 GLIAC Preseason Player of the Year. In 2020-21, Nelson started 21 games and led the Rangers in points, steals, field goal percentage, three-point percentage, and free throw percentage. She was named First Team All-GLIAC and a member of the All-GLIAC Defensive Team.

- Jordan Ludescher and Ellie Mackay were named preseason All-GLIAC, along with Ferris State sophomore guard Kadyn Blanchard, and Northern Michigan sophomore guard Makaylee Kuhn.