PREVIEW: Huskies host Northwood in GLIAC Quarterfinals

HOUGHTON, Mich. - No. 4 seed Michigan Tech women's basketball (17-10, 12-7) hosts No. 5 seed Northwood in the quarterfinals of the GLIAC Tournament Wednesday, March 2 at 5:30 p.m. at SDC Gymnasium. The Huskies picked up a pair of road wins last week to secure home court advantage for the opening round. Fans can hear Wednesday's men's and women's basketball games on Mix 93.5 FM WKMJ with the voice of the Huskies, Mitch Lake.

The Huskies split the regular season series against the Timberwolves, winning 80-73 at Riepma Arena on December 4, and falling 91-81 at SDC Gymnasium on January 27.

LAST TIME OUT

• Three players made it to double figures and the Huskies overcame a slow start to defeat Lake Superior State 78-63 Saturday afternoon at Ron Cooper Gymnasium. 
• Ellie Mackay led the team with 18 points, nine rebounds, and four assists. Katelyn Meister posted 17 points and Alex Rondorf pitched in 14. The Huskies trailed 19-12 after one quarter but outscored the Lakers 18-8 in the second and never looked back.
• "It was a good way to end the regular season," said head coach Sam Clayton. "I thought Kate was aggressive for us offensively and it was another game where every player contributed. We shared the ball well and defended hard."
• The Huskies shot 51.7-percent from the field, including 13-for-18 from the free throw line. Tech also recorded 29 rebounds, 19 assists, and six turnovers.

MACKAY LEADS THE HUSKIES INTO THE POSTSEASON

• Last season's GLIAC player of the year and GLIAC Tournament most valuable player Ellie Mackay (Junior - Guard) leads the Huskies with 16.7 points and has started all 26 games.
• The Novi, Michigan native averages a team high 31.7 minutes and has nine games of 20 or more points, including a career-high 36 on January 6 in a win over Wisconsin Parkside.

DAX WINS GLIAC NORTH DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK

• Michigan Tech sophomore forward Sara Dax (Kewaunee, Wisconsin) was named GLIAC North Division Player of the Week, announced by the conference office Monday afternoon. Dax totaled 48 points over three conference road games last week, including a season-high 23 points to lead the Huskies over Ferris State on Thursday night.
• Dax also recorded 16 rebounds, four assists, one block, and one steal and shot an efficient 71.4 percent (20-28) from the field.
• Tuesday night, Dax scored 18 points and went 7-for-7 from the free throw line. Thursday, she posted 23 points with a pair of three and 10-for-14 shooting. Saturday, the Huskies defeated Lake Superior State and Dax scored seven points. Dax ranks third on the team in points (10.9 ppg) and first in rebounds (5.6 rpg).
• Monday marks the first time Dax has been awarded GLIAC North Division player of the week in her career. She is the third Husky to be named this season, joining teammates Ellie Mackay (Jan. 24) and Alex Rondorf (Jan. 17).

SCOUTING THE TIMBERWOLVES

• Northwood ended the regular season on a three-game win streak, including a 96-91 victory over Wisconsin Parkside on Saturday. Northwood shot 47-percent from the floor and nabbed 37 rebounds (13 offensive). 
• Mackenzie Todd led the way with 20 points, including four 3-pointers. Ellie Taylor also posted 18 points with five assists, and four rebounds. Jayla Strickland (16 points) and Alana Nelson (10 points, 10 rebounds) also made it to double figures.
• Todd (Grand Ledge, Michigan) is a junior guard. She averages 13.2 points per game with 26 starts. Sophomore center Nelson (Springport, Michigan) pulls in 7.2 rebounds and scored a season high 29 points at Indianapolis on November 13.
• Last year, the Timberwolves finished 11-9 overall, 11-7 GLIAC. NU fell to Ashland in the GLIAC quarterfinals, then came up short to Truman State in the NCAA Midwest Region opening round.
• Autumn Haggadone is in her first season as head coach. She took over for Jeff Curtis, who took over as Northwood Athletic Director last summer. 
• The Timberwolves defeated the Huskies 91-81 on January 27 in Houghton. 
• Northwood had a record-breaking performance from the 3-point arc, making 15 of 25 attempts (60-percent). Northwood failed to win in Houghton prior to January, with losses dating back to February, 2008.
• Alana Nelson led NU with 23 points and 12 rebounds.
• Alex Rondorf finished with eight three pointers for the Huskies, one shy of a program single-game record.
• Dax was an efficient 8-for-10 from the field and Mackay added 13 points, four assists, and a pair of steals.

REIGNING CHAMPS

• Michigan Tech women's basketball returned 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 by captains Ellie Mackay (Novi, Michigan), Jordan Ludescher (Glen Flora, Wisconsin), and Katelyn Meister (Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin). All three were integral starters and shared a heavy workload this season prior to Ludescher's injury after the departures 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. Michigan Tech matched a program record with 19 wins in a row during the regular season.
• The Huskies were selected to finish first in the GLIAC North Division in the GLIAC women's basketball preseason coaches' poll with eight first place votes. The Huskies were followed by Ferris State, Wisconsin Parkside, Northern Michigan, Purdue Northwest, and Lake Superior State. Grand Valley State received nine first place votes to take the top spot in the South Division.