PREVIEW: Tech in Houghton this week

HOUGHTON, Mich. - The Huskies are home for the final three games of the regular season, beginning Thursday at 5:30 p.m. against Purdue Northwest. The Huskies then host Wisconsin Parkside Saturday at 1 p.m. 

Tech defeated the Pride in Hammond, Indiana 86-83 on December 3. 

The Huskies stayed in second place in the GLIAC standings with a 63-48 win over Davenport Saturday in Grand Rapids. Tech is currently in position to host the GLIAC Quarterfinals at SDC Gymnasium on March 1. The Huskies were ranked No. 24 in the nation last week and received national votes from the WBCA on Tuesday.

RECENT FORM

• Ellie Mackay (Novi, Michigan) scored 18 points Saturday and the Huskies reached the 20-win plateau for the fifth time in the past seven seasons at DU Student Center. MTU split its final road trip of the regular season after falling Thursday to No. 6 Grand Valley State 60-43.
• Mackay (12.5) and Isabella Lenz (11.5) averaged double figures on the week.

MACKAY EYES MORE RECORDS

• After surpassing the Michigan Tech all-time career games played record (131), Mackay continues to climb the charts.
• Her 1,774 career points ranks third behind Katie Wysocky (1,943) and Jenny Postlewaite (1,856). 
• The fifth-year senior holds an 87.1 percent career free throw percentage, on pace to surpass Mary Fisher's (1983-87) MTU record 85.3 percent with 250 makes on 293 tries at the line.
• Mackay already holds the single season record for free throw percentage (.924), though senior Alex Rondorf has converted 41-43 tries this season (95.3 percent) and needs seven more trips to the line to qualify. 
• The Huskies rank fourth in Division II free throw percentage (79.94 percent). Cedarville (GMAC) leads the nation at 82.19 percent.

MATCHUP WITH PURDUE NORTHWEST

• Rondorf went 7-for-7 from the field for a team-high 23 points and used a big third quarter to sneak past the Pride 86-83 in early December. 
• Katelyn Meister hit a jump shot with 33 seconds to play in the fourth quarter for a four-point leads.
• Tadriana Heard struck back with a triple for PNW but Sara Dax and Rondorf went 3-for-4 from the free throw line in the final 22 seconds to secure the victory. 
• Purdue Northwest won the only matchup in 2021-22 in overtime 93-89 after last January's game was cancelled due the health concerns.
• Rondorf ranks fifth in the GLIAC in rebounds (7.9) and Sara Dax in second in field goal percentage (53.4).
• The Huskies lead the GLIAC in turnovers per game (12.4) and free throw percentage (79.9).

SCOUTING THE PRIDE (7-17, 3-11)

• Purdue Northwest lost 87-75 Saturday afternoon in Kenosha, Wisconsin. 
• Junior Dash Shaw (Crown Point, Ind.) led the Pride with 25 points and five rebounds.
• Junior Tadriana Heard (Justice, Ill.) added 18 points with eight rebounds, and five assists.
• Parkside outscored PNW 24-21 in the fourth quarter.
• Last season, PNW earned the most wins in program history since joining NCAA Division II.
• Courtney Locke is in her fourth season as head coach.
• Despite two straight losses, the Pride cling to the eighth and final GLIAC Tournament spot in eighth place, a half-game clear of Lake Superior State (3-12).
• Forward Mercedes Simmons leads the conference in shooting percentage (53.9 percent).
• Purdue Northwest was selected to finish eight in the GLIAC Preseason Coaches Poll.
• Shaw was an All-GLIAC Second Team honoree last season at 14.5 point per game in 24 starts.
• The team welcomed four newcomers this fall.

SCOUTING THE RANGERS (16-8, 11-3)

• The Rangers have won three straight, including an 87-75 home triumph Saturday over Purdue Northwest.
• Redshirt senior guard Alyssa Nelson (New Berlin, Wis.) led the team with 23 points, five rebounds, and two assists.
• Paty Gallasova ended with 19 points, three rebounds, and five assists.
• Sheridan Flauger finished with 18 points, four steals, and three assists.
• Nelson leads the league in points per game (22.1), ahead of Kaitlyn Zarycki (20.3) for Saginaw Valley State. Nelson also ranks fourth in 3-point percentage (42.9 percent). 
• Parkside upended Michigan Tech 86-80 on December 1 in Kenosha. 
• Nelson dominated with 30 points. The Huskies led 31-24 in the second quarter and 47-46 in the third, but the Rangers had a five-point edge heading into the fourth and stayed on top the rest of the way.

D2SIDA REGION RANKINGS (Week 12)

Receiving Votes: Saginaw Valley State

GLIAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK

• Alyssa Nelson continues to rewrite the Parkside record books. After scoring 17 points in the Rangers win over Ferris State, Nelson was just one point away from becoming the first player in program history to score 2,000 points in her career. 
• Nelson cruised past the 2,000-point mark in Saturday's game against Lake Superior State, scoring 23 points in the home victory.
• Nelson's 23 points led the Rangers to a 109-68 win over the Lakers, as the team broke the program's single-game scoring record of 108 points, which had stood since 1988.