PREVIEW: Huskies rekindle rivalry

HOUGHTON, Mich. - Michigan Tech assembled four straight wins prior to the holiday break and return to action this week against No. 2 ranked Ashland and Walsh, both members of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. 

The Huskies (10-2, 3-1) are tied for second place in the GLIAC standings, up against the undefeated Eagles (12-0, 6-0). Ashland is MTU's second nationally ranked opponent this winter. A former GLIAC member school, Ashland ended the Huskies' memorable 2020-21 season in the NCAA Division II Midwest Region Semifinals in Springfield, Illinois, after Michigan Tech bested the Eagles in the conference tournament championship two weeks prior.

Ashland's biggest win of 2022-23 came against No. 7 Drury on November 23 in the Oasis Hotel and Convention Center Thanksgiving Classic 68-67 in overtime. Meanwhile, Tech upset No. 19 Ferris State inside SDC Gymnasium 67-52 on December 11. Despite a solid start to the season with five returning starters, the Huskies have not yet garnered national poll recognition. This weekend may present an opportunity to change that.

Fans can tune their radio dial in the Keweenaw to Mix 93.5 FM WKMJ to hear both games or go online to pasty.net.

LAST TIME OUT

• Michigan Tech scored early and often to win comfortably over Finlandia University 76-44 at SDC Gymnasium on Saturday, December 17.
• The Huskies remained undefeated at home (7-0) after facing the Lions in regular season play for just the second time in 10 years. 
• Three players reached double figures for Tech, including Ellie Mackay and Sloane Zenner with 14 points apiece, and Alex Rondorf with 11.
• Zenner helped the Huskies to a 28-7 first quarter start from the three point arc and finished 4-for-6 on the day from downtown.

MATCHUP AGAINST ASHLAND

• Ashland's 74-65 win in the 2020-21 Midwest Region Semifinals was the last meeting between the two old rivals. The game was a bitter disappointment for the veteran-laden Husky squad, which finished the year 20-2 overall. 
• Forward Annie Roshak (North Canton, Ohio), now a senior poured in 26 points to lead the Eagles. Roshak is currently averaging a team-high 13.7 points per game. Her junior accolades include being named WBCA honorable mention All-America and First Team All-Midwest Region.
• Current Huskies Alex Rondorf and Ellie Mackay made it to double figures against Ashland two seasons ago but Tech shot just 34.9-percent overall and Roshak sealed their fate with late free throws. Michigan Tech had been the No. 1 seed in the tournament in the program's 20th NCAA appearance. 

SCOUTING THE EAGLES

• Ashland stayed at No. 2 in the December 20 Division II WBCA National Coaches Poll, behind only Grand Valley State. The Eagles were ranked No. 5 in the nation in the preseason.
• Kari Pickens is in her fifth season guiding Ashland (105-15).
• The Eagles concluded the 2021-22 season at 29-3 overall and 21-1 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, having won both the Great Midwest regular-season and tournament championships.
• The Eagles also played host to the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional, finished the season ranked No. 9 in the country, and were ranked as high as No. 2 during the campaign.
• Over the last 11 seasons, Ashland has gone 322-39 (.892) with two NCAA Division II national championships, two national runner-up finishes, two undefeated seasons, a D-II-record 73-game winning streak, six 30-win seasons, 10 NCAA postseason qualifications, seven conference regular-season championships, eight conference tournament titles, and a mark of 175-13 (.931) at home.
• The Eagles returned three 2021-22 starters – All-American senior forward Annie Roshak (averaged 17.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.0 blocks per game, and made 55.1 percent from the field, 33.0 percent from 3-point range and 76.7 percent from the free-throw line),
• Second-team all-conference fifth-year guard Hallie Heidemann (averaged 12.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game, and hit 48.6 percent from the field, 42.6 percent from 3-point range and 86.8 percent from the free-throw line)
• Second-team all-league junior guard Macy Spielman (averaged 12.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game, and shot team-high 57.0 percent from the field, as well as 37.7 percent from 3-point range and team-best 87.0 percent from the free-throw line).

SCOUTING THE CAVALIERS

• Under the guidance of newly tabbed head coach, Mark Schwitzgable, the Cavaliers were voted in the No. 3 spot heading into the start of the season.
• Walsh fell last season in the GMAC Championship game.
• Walsh misses Player of the Year in Sha Carter as well as Mayci Sales, a five-time First-Team selection. The league's best three-point shooter in Morgan McMillen returned for Walsh as well as Second-Team All-Conference selection Lexie Scarton. McMillen made 102 threes on the year at .483 percent. Scarton ranked fourth in the Great Midwest in Assist/Turnover ratio as well as assists per game at 3.7.
• Michigan Tech's last matchup with Walsh was on December 3, 2016, with Walsh winning 68-65 in Houghton.
• The Cavs are 0-3 against GLIAC opponents this season and fell 89-64 last time out against Ferris State in North Canton on December 19.
• Thursday night's scheduled game against D'Youville College was postponed.

MACKAY CLIMBS ALL-TIME CHARTS

• Senior guard Ellie Mackay (Novi, Michigan) started as GLIAC Freshman of the year in 2018-19, earned GLIAC Player of the Year in 2020-21, and was again First Team All-GLIAC last season.
• She currently ranks third on the Michigan Tech all-time list for career points (1,596), behind only Jenny Postlewaite (1,856) and Katie Wysocky (1,943).
• After setting a single-season record for free throw percentage last year, Mackay remains on pace to surpass Mary Fisher for best career free throw percentage (.853) set in 1987.
• Mackay also ranks 11th in all-time games played (120). Angela Guisfredi holds the record with 130 games between 2007-11.
• With 12 starts this year, Mackay is averaging 14.0 points and a team-high 27.3 minutes per game.

GLIAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK

• Ferris State senior guard Mallory McCartney led the Bulldogs to an impressive 89-64 road victory over Walsh on Monday, totaling a team-high 20 points while dishing out 10 assists with eight rebounds and three steals in a near triple-double performance.
• McCartney tallied her 1,000th career point in the victory, which also represented the 100th career coaching win for FSU head coach Kurt Westendorp.
• Her play lifted the Bulldogs to an 8-2 mark heading into the holiday break. In the contest, she shot 47% from the floor and made six-of-12 (50%) three-point tries.

HUSKY LEAGUE LEADERS

• Field Goal Percentage: Alex Rondorf (1st - 57%)
• Field Goal Percentage: Sara Dax (1st - 56%)
• 3-Point Percentage: Alex Rondorf (4th - 44%)

D2SIDA MIDWEST REGION RANKINGS (WEEK 6)

1. Ashland (3) [12-0] 

2. Grand Valley State (2) [11-0] 

3. Drury [11-1] 

4. Michigan Tech [10-2] 

5. Ferris State [8-2] 

6. Kentucky Wesleyan [7-3] 

7. Maryville [8-3] 

8. Truman State [8-5]

9. Wayne State [7-3]

10. Malone [8-4] 

RV: Saginaw Valley State, Northern Michigan