Michigan Tech Women Roll Past Northern, 68-49

The Michigan Tech Huskies women's basketball team beat the Northern Michigan Wildcats, 68-49, Monday night in Marquette.

Click the AUDIO buttons to hear player spotlight interviews with Andrea Perez, Madigan Johns, and Mack Holzwart.

This story was written by Michigan Tech Athletics

MARQUETTE, Mich. - Michigan Tech women's basketball swept the season series against Northern Michigan with a 68-49 win Monday night at Berry Events Center.

The Huskies held the Wildcats to 18 points in the first half, then dominated the third quarter to improve to 7-3 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, 12-6 overall.

Freshman Isabella Lenz was especially effective in the mid-range and led Tech with 13 points (season-high) and went 6-for-8 from the field with three steals, three assists, and one block. Daisy Ansel also contributed 11 points off the bench. Ellie Mackay (12 points) and Katelyn Meister (10 points) also made it to double figures.

"It was an awesome team win tonight against our rivals," said head coach Sam Clayton. "Every player stepped up on both ends of the floor. Bella (Lenz) played really well, and it was great to see her being aggressive on offense and defense. I was also happy to see our defense come out strong, which we will need the rest of the season."

Monday marked the 11th straight victory for Michigan Tech over Northern Michigan in the series dating back to 2017. Northern Michigan (8-9, 3-7 GLIAC) dropped its third straight game.

After gaining an early 14-9 advantage, the Huskies used a 14-0 run at the start of the second quarter to gain a 32-18 edge by halftime. A pair of baskets in transition helped NMU get back to striking distance, but the Huskies countered quickly and continued to play shut down defense to take a 53-32 edge into the fourth quarter.

Tech scored 26 points in the paint and shot 42.6-percent (26-61), including 40-percent (8-20) from beyond the arc. Tech also nabbed seven steals and three blocks for a 2-to-1 assist to turnover ratio (16-8).

Each team pulled down 32 rebounds, but the Wildcats struggled to score, ending 30.4-percent from the field (17-56) and 22.7-percent (5-22) from downtown. Makaylee Kuhn made it to double-figures for NMU with 10 points and Emily Mueller led all players with 13 rebounds.

Michigan Tech continues its road trip Thursday at Purdue Northwest. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. at PNW Fitness Center. The Huskies are in second place in the GLIAC North Division behind Ferris State with eight regular season games to play.

This story was written by Northern Michigan Sports Information

MARQUETTE, Mich.- The Northern Michigan University women's basketball team matched up with the Huskies from Michigan Technological University on Monday, Jan. 31.

Late shooting success was not enough, as Northern fell short by a score of 68-49.

After a slow start to the first quarter, freshman Vivianne Jende got the ball rolling for the 'Cats, scoring on a turn-around jumper.

Junior Emily Mueller stood tall in the paint, bringing down a defensive rebound for a fast break chance for the Wildcats.

Makaylee Kuhn added herself to the scoresheet, knocking down a floater over the Huskies defender as Tech led 9-7 with just under three minutes to play.

Mueller continued her dominant performance on the glass, collecting her team high sixth rebound, fifth defensively.

MTU closed out the first quarter ahead of NMU by a slim margin of 14-9.

The Huskies came out flying to start the second quarter, knocking down shot after shot to bring their lead to 22-9, forcing NMU head coach Troy Mattson to call a timeout.

Emily Mueller answered back with a floater from the mid-range, Tech led 22-11.

Makaylee Kuhn found herself standing all alone in the corner, putting down a three from downtown.

Kuhn found a rhythm towards the end of the second quarter, adding two from the charity stripe with just under two minutes to play.

Senior Elizabeth Lutz snuck behind a Huskies defender, finding herself open for the corner three off a dish from Vivianne Jende.

At the end of the quarter, MTU found themselves with a 32-18 lead.

Makaylee Kuhn leads the Wildcats in points totaling seven points in 17 minutes of play.

Emily Mueller was a force on the glass, bringing down a game high nine rebounds, eight of them coming on defense.

Northern made the most of their chances on the free-throw line, shooting 75-percent.

Freshman Mackenzie Holzwart converts on the fastbreak play off a pass from Makaylee Kuhn to start out the third quarter.

Freshman Kayla Tierney found herself on a deserted island, knocking down a three off a pass from Makaylee Kuhn. Tech led 39-25 with just over five minutes to play.

After a strong performance from the Huskies in the third quarter, Michigan Tech led 53-32 headed into the fourth.

NMU came out with a slow start to the fourth quarter until Makaylee Kuhn went up for a lay-up and drew a foul along the way, Tech led 58-35.

Freshman Alyssa Nimz created space in the offensive zone, dishing out a pass to Kayla Tierney who splashed one in from downtown.

Sophomore Madigan Johns pulled up for a mid-range jumper off a bounce pass from freshman Brooke Kriegl.

Johns added her name again to the box score, dropping in a three in heavy coverage.

The three came easy for Johns, knocking in another three from the corner, bringing her game total to eight points.

Sophomore Samantha Potter helped the 'Cats, putting down a jumper from the mid-range.

After a strong success of shots from the Wildcats in the ending minutes, Northern fell to the Huskies by a score of 68-49.

Makaylee Kuhn pushed the team with a team high 10 points in 28 minutes of play. Kuhn shot 100-percent from the free throw line.

Emily Mueller was a dominating force on the glass, pulling down a game high 13 boards.

NMU opens up next month on the road against Parkside University on Thursday, Feb. 3 at 6:30 p.m.