Huskies No. 1 in GLIAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll

• GLIAC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll

HOUGHTON, Mich. – Michigan Tech women's basketball was selected to finish first in the GLIAC North Division this season the league announced Tuesday in its preseason coaches' poll. The Huskies begin the regular season as defending GLIAC North Division and conference tournament champions with three returning starters, including GLIAC player of the year Ellie Mackay.

The team opens the regular season with a pair of games in the Northern Michigan Invitational this week. The Huskies play Lewis University on Saturday, November 13 at 11 a.m. EST. followed by William Jewell Sunday, November 14 at 12 p.m. EST. 

NMU TOURNAMENT

2021-22 GLIAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON RANKINGS

LAST TIME OUT

Mackay scored 28 points and Michigan Tech women's basketball grabbed a 71-67 exhibition win over University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh on November 4 at the Student Development Complex. Mackay shot 6-for-8 from beyond the arc and 10-for-18 overall as the Huskies drew just enough separation in the second half to hold on. 

Tech was effective with 30 points in the paint. Katelyn Meister made it to double-figures off the bench with 10 points and four rebounds. Sara Dax and Daisy Ansel were visible with six points apiece and freshman Isabella Lenz made a strong first impression with a pair of 3-pointers for six points in the second half.

HUSKIES AT A GLANCE

- 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 Bailie 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).

SCOUTING LEWIS UNIVERSITY

Lewis University was selected to finish second in the Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division in the 2021-22 GLVC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll.

First-year head coach Matt Nelson takes the helm from reigning GLVC Coach of the Year Samantha Quigley Smith.

The Flyers return 14 players from last year's squad including GLVC Freshman of the Year Jenna Badali (Oak Lawn, Ill./Mother McAuley) and Kathryn Schmidt (Hampshire, Ill./Burlington Central) who was a Second Team All-GLVC Selection last year. Lewis finished last season with a record of 13-9, 13-8 in the GLVC Tournament and advanced to the GLVC Tournament for the 13th consecutive season. 

SCOUTING WILLIAM JEWELL COLLEGE

William Jewell finished 12-11 overall and 12-10 in the GLVC in 2020-21. The Cardinals fell 68-52 to Truman State in the GLVC Conference semifinals after their quarterfinal against University of Southern Indiana was canceled.

The Cardinals will need to replace top scorers Kiara Bradley (19.0 ppg) and Ainsley Tolson (11.1 ppg) with young talent this season. The team averaged 62.4 points per game and allowed opponents to score 67.0 points. William Jewell also averaged 35.7 rebounds and 12.1 assists in 2020-21.

LOOKING AHEAD

- The regular season begins with a pair of games against GLVC opponents in the Northern Michigan Invitational. The Huskies then host Minnesota Crookston and Minnesota Duluth from the Northern Sun Conference before traveling to Northern State to play Minnesota State Moorhead and Northern State on the last weekend of November. 

Tech heads to Northwood on December 4 to tip off the GLIAC schedule. The team will have a target on their back this fall after capturing their 17^th GLIAC North Division title and tying a program record 18 straight victories with GLIAC Coach of the Year Sam Clayton.