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Michigan Tech ahead Maja Kozlowska drives round a Saginaw Valley State defender throughout a recreation Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, on the SDC Gymnasium in Houghton. (David Archambeau\/For the Gazette)
HOUGHTON — Since Jan. 20, the Michigan Tech Huskies girls’s basketball crew has been one of many hottest groups within the GLIAC, going 7-2 over their final 9 video games. The 2 losses got here to No. 7 Ferris State and to Northern Michigan. Nonetheless, the Huskies bounced again with a pair of wins final week to enhance to 14-10 general and 10-6 in convention play.
At present sitting in fourth, the Huskies might nonetheless catch the Wildcats for third, however their focus this weekend shall be on holding onto a house playoff spot, regardless of how they do towards Davenport and No. 2 Grand Valley State.
After dropping that recreation at house to the Wildcats, the Huskies wanted the trouble they introduced at Wayne State on Thursday, the place they broke three single-game information within the means of incomes a 95-75 win.
“Thursday was enjoyable, and I feel that was big to have that sort of a recreation after how we performed Saturday, simply to get our confidence going, simply to indicate what we’re able to,”<\/span> stated Huskies coach Sam Clayton. “We’re able to having nice video games like that and getting our offense flowing. (A) massive key was breaking that press, after which we acquired actually beauty getting the ball inside just a little bit.
“I used to be actually proud of, clearly, how we performed Thursday. Breaking information makes teaching very easy once you make a ton of pictures. However, on the identical time, it got here from making actually good selections, too, that we acquired these beauty. So, I feel that was nice.”<\/span>
The Huskies saved that offensive confidence flowing deep into their matchup with Saginaw Valley State on Saturday, and that helped them earn their seventh win of their final 9 video games.
“To shoot it 50% once more on Saturday,”<\/span> stated Clayton, “and handle the ball fairly effectively towards some extra stress within the full and within the half court docket (was good).”<\/span>
Clayton praised the play of junior guard Isabella Lenz and fifth-year guard Alex Rondorf, each of whom chipped in to assist the Huskies win by means of their play. Lenz scored a career-high 23 factors to steer the Huskies offensively, whereas Rondorf racked up 9 rebounds, together with eight defensively.
“Bella had an enormous recreation for us Saturday, performed rather well, hit massive pictures,”<\/span> Clayton stated. “I assumed each video games, actually, a key issue was actually Alex towards the press. She makes such good selections that having her on the market, it’s what will get us actually beauty. On high of her being an unbelievable chief, her work ethic ideas defensively. She does so many issues, however statistically, she most likely wouldn’t stand out to you.
“I assumed she was a giant distinction maker in each of these video games.”<\/span>
Whereas Lenz has been main the Huskies offensively, and Rondorf has been nice defensively, Clayton additionally likes what she has seen in sophomore ahead Maja Kozlowska over the past three video games as they Huskies have been with out fifth-year ahead Sara Dax. Kozlowska scored 10 factors towards Northern MIchigan in 17 minutes of play, scored 10 extra towards Wayne State in 16 minutes, and 7 towards Saginaw Valley State in 19 minutes. Nonetheless, Clayton loves what she is getting out of the Gorzow Wielkopolski, Poland, native, defensively.
“Maja truly had 5 blocks on Thursday,”<\/span> Clayton stated. “Like, we’re speaking all about offense, however she got here in and had an enormous recreation for us defensively, serving to us shield the paint. She will do this. She rebounds rather well offensively and defensively. She’s been stealing arduous, which has been getting us open threes, too. A few of these makes, that’s simply her posting up.”<\/span>
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS<\/strong>
The Davenport Panthers enter this weekend 3-23 general and 1-15 in GLIAC play after a really unlucky weekend that noticed them give up Lake Superior State’s first convention win of the season, after which they misplaced to No. 10 Ferris State two days later.
Junior heart Lillee Gustafson leads the crew in scoring, averaging 10.8 factors per recreation, and rebounding at 7.8 rebounds per recreation.
Sophomore ahead Ellie Toney is averaging 8.8 factors per recreation. Freshman guard Isabel Lindo is having a robust first season, averaging 8.7 factors per recreation.
SCOUTING THE LAKERS<\/strong>
The Grand Valley State Lakers are the polar reverse of the Panthers. They’re 24-2 general and 15-1 in GLIAC play, making them at present the top-seeded crew for the convention event, barring a really tough weekend Thursday and Saturday.
Junior Rylie Bisballe leads the Lakers in scoring, averaging 12.4 factors per recreation. She additionally averages 6.7 rebounds per recreation.
Junior guard Ellie Droste has additionally been excellent, averaging 11.7 factors per recreation. Sophomore guard Paige Vanstee is simply shy of averaging in double digits at 9.9 factors per recreation.
GAME TIMES<\/strong>
The Huskies and Panthers will tip off Thursday at 5:30 p.m. on the SDC Gymnasium. Saturday, the Huskies will rejoice Senior Day and face the Lakers at 12 p.m.
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