Huskies tame Dragons in Dakotah Bank Classic

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Katelyn Meister posted 17 points and Sloane Zenner made a trio of 3-pointers at timely moments to help Michigan Tech over Minnesota State University Moorhead 65-53 in the first game of the Dakotah Bank Classic, hosted by Northern State University at Wachs Arena. The Huskies shot 51-percent (25-49) from the field and held the lead for the duration of the second half to move to 4-1 in non-conference regular season play.

MSU-Moorhead (Northern Sun Conference) was limited to 36-percent shooting and despite a rally in the third quarter to cut the margin to four, the Dragons failed to close the gap in the fourth quarter Friday afternoon.

Michigan Tech plays Northern State Saturday, November 27 at 3 p.m. in Aberdeen in their final non-conference affair. MSU Moorhead (0-4, 0-1 NSIC) takes on Montana State University Billings Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Dakotah Bank Classic.

"I was really proud of how our team fought tonight," said head coach Sam Clayton. "We had to play tough against a bigger team inside but everyone did their part to limit them inside. I thought Kate (Meister) was really a spark for us again on offense. She is really making good reads inside and finishing well. Alex (Rondorf) also made a big impact with her post presence and hustle plays. It was a great team win."

Alex Rondorf led the Huskies with 11 points (5-7) in a tight first half. Tech was efficient shooting 50-percent from the field, including 40-percent from the 3-point arc. Katelyn Meister added nine points while Sara Dax posted six points and four assists. Meanwhile, the Dragons shot 39-percent (11-28), including 18-percent from long range.

MSU-Moorhead committed four turnovers and caused six from the Huskies. Michigan Tech extended their largest lead of the game to that point 34-28 at the break.

Continuing to be a strong inside presence, Meister pivoted in the paint and Euro-stepped in for a left hand lay-in to give the Huskies their first double-figure advantage to start the third quarter.

The Dragons rallied with a series of 3-pointers to close within six points of a tie 49-43 by the end of the third. Sloane Zenner helped stop MSU-Moorhead's momentum with a 3-pointer in transition for Michigan Tech.

With under two minutes to play, Zenner connected on her third 3-pointer to help the Huskies to a 61-51 lead and a timeout by the Dragons.

In 32 minutes on the court, Meister shot 8-for-11 and totaled nine rebounds for 17 points, adding one steal, and one assist. Rondorf hit a season-high 15 points on 6 of 9 shooting with four rebounds and a pair of assists. Dax tallied 11 points and five assists while Zenner contributed nine points off the bench and went 3-for-4 from beyond the arc.

Peyton Boom and Natalie Jens led the Dragons with 15 points apiece. Boom shot 7-for-17 with six rebounds, and a steal. Aliyah Miller scored nine points off the bench.

Tech committed 18 total turnovers with 14 assists, five steals, and one block. On the opposite end, MSU-Moorhead finished with 14 turnovers, four steals, and one block. Michigan Tech won the boards battle 32-30. Despite only one free throw earned in the first half, the Huskies finished 9-11 from the line (81.8-percent).