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Michigan Tech Basketball Teams Sweep Northern
 HOUGHTON---The Michigan Tech men's basketball team used 14-0 run in the second half to take command against Northern Michigan, defeating the Wildcats 69-58 on Monday at the SDC Gym. The Huskies improve to 14-5 overall and 10-5 in the GLIAC. After leading 41-37 with 14:13 remaining, Tech scored 14 straight points to quickly balloon the four-point lead to 18. Jason Hawke kick-started the run with a 3-pointer and scored seven points in the stretch. Ethan Blackwell and Justin Newell each hit buckets for NMU, but Austin Armga made two free throws and the Huskies hit 3-pointers on four straight possessions to take their largest lead of the game (69-43) with 5:40 to go. Phil Romback buried two of the 3-pointers in the stretch for his first points of the season.  Tech had a balanced scoring attack with Ben Stelzer leading the way with a game-high 19 points. He also added six assists and four rebounds. Armga finished with 12 points and four rebounds. Hawke tallied nine and Kyle Stankowski had eight. Alex Culy, Romback and Jordan Chartier each scored a half a dozen. "It was good to get a lot of guys in the game to spread out the minutes," added Luke. "The schedule has been tough and we have two more games this week." NMU (4-15, 3-12 GLIAC) showed a lot of energy early, taking a 4-0 lead. A Stelzer three and back-to-back buckets by Stankowski got the Huskies on track. There were four ties and 11 lead changes in the opening half with neither team leading by more than four. Tech held a 32-29 lead at the break. Tech finished the game shooting 46.7 percent (21-for-45) from the floor and 11-for-20 (55 percent) from three, including 7-for-10 in the second half. The Huskies held a 33-31 rebounding advantage and had 13 assists on 21 made field goals. Northern shot 42.1 percent from the floor but was only 3-for-17 from three. Ethan Blackwell, Terry Nash and Chavis Mattison all had 13 points to lead the Wildcats. The two teams combined for only 14 turnovers. WOMEN'S GAME: MICHIGAN TECH 71, NORTHERN MICHIGAN 65 HOUGHTON---Mackenzie Perttu poured in a career-high 30 points to carry the Michigan Tech women's basketball team to a 71-65 win over Northern Michigan on Monday (Feb. 3). The Huskies swept the three-game weekend at the SDC Gym against North Division opponents to improve to 15-4 overall and 13-2 in the GLIAC. Knotted up at 60 with 4:40 to go, Emily Harrison checked into the game and made back-to-back buckets to give the Huskies their final lead. Tech didn't make a field goal in the final 3:53 but made eight free throws, including six off Perttu's fingertips. The defense held NMU to only one made field goal on six attempts in the final 2:30. "It's a war out there," Tech coach Kim Cameron said. "I knew it going in, and it was more so than I thought. It was competitive on every single possession, and it was so important to get the big win at home."  Blake recorded her third 20-point game, finishing with 21, on 8-for-18 shooting. She also added four blocks and four rebounds, sitting out only a few seconds. NMU (12-7, 9-6 GLIAC) held a 28-27 halftime lead after seven ties and seven lead changes. The 'Cats jumped out to an early 9-4 lead but jumpers from Blake, Harrison and a 3-pointer from Paige Albi gave Tech its first lead with 6:13 left before half. Tied at 48, the Huskies went on a 10-2 run to take its largest lead of the game at eight (58-50) with 8:28 remaining. Blake had seven points in the run, including an old-fashioned three-point play. The two teams traded baskets before NMU scored eight straight to tie it at 60. Tech shot 41.8 percent (23-for-55) from the field and only 4-for-14 (28.6 percent) from three. The home team converted on 21-of-25 (84 percent) free throw attempts. Albi scored nine points for the Huskies while Harrison finished with eight, for the second game in a row. Kerry Gardner also entered the scoring column with a 3-pointer and Jillian Ritchie grabbed a team-high six rebounds, playing 38 minutes. "Emily was awesome tonight," added Cameron. "She was focused and ready for her opportunity. She did something good every time she went to the basket. I'm proud of the way she played." Northern shot 47.3 percent (26-for-55) from the field and 2-for-14 from deep. The Wildcats were led by Alyssa Colla with 22 points. Alyson Matkovich added 10 points while Annie Rubendunst pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds. The visitors held a 36-28 rebounding advantage.  |
