This story and photo courtesy of Michigan Tech Athletics. Click the AUDIO button to hear comments from NMU Coach Casey Thousand.

HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Tech women's basketball team outlasted Northern Michigan to conclude the regular season home slate with a 64-59 win over the Wildcats at the SDC Gymnasium on Thursday evening. 
 

The Huskies earn a series split and elevate to 11-14 overall and 8-9 in the GLIAC. Northern Michigan falls to 18-7 overall and 12-5 in the loop.
 

"This game is one we always look forward to—we wanted this one and you could tell with our fire and energy in the first half—I'm super proud of the way we competed tonight," said Tech head coach Sam Clayton. "We got some momentum in the second quarter and did a lot of good things offensively. All of a sudden in the third quarter we couldn't do anything and the contrast between the two quarters was crazy. I'm really proud of the way our team responded in the fourth quarter instead of continuing that trajectory in the third quarter and Bella had some big shots late and I'm so happy for her."
 

After both teams connected on seven field goals in the first frame (15-15), the Huskies opened the game up in the second quarter, outscoring Northern Michigan 23-10, shooting 66.7 percent from the field. The Black & Gold opened the second quarter with a 12-2 run as graduate transfer Janie Tormanen produced seven points in the stretch, starting with a 3-pointer before dominating the paint area with back-to-back layups, forcing a Wildcat timeout at the 5:33 mark, as Michigan Tech went ahead 27-15.
 

Jacy Weisbrod attempted to keep the Wildcats in it with two 3-pointers in the ladder stages of the first half, although the Huskies maintained an advantage with two jumpers from freshman Ella Mason and a triple by Alyssa Wypych, keeping Michigan Tech in the lead 38-25 heading into the halftime break.
 

Tormanen had a game-high 11 points and five rebounds in 17 minutes of action through the first half. 
 

The Wildcats began the third quarter with a run of their own, putting up 10 points in the first 4:40 to make it a 38-35 affair, forcing the Huskies to take a timeout. By the end of the quarter, the Wildcats outscored the Black & Gold 21-6, seeing Michigan Tech trail 46-44.
 

Michigan Tech righted the ship in the final frame with nine points from Standfest and five points from veteran guard Isabella Lenz, as the Huskies were able to hold off the Wildcats over the final 10 minutes, outscoring the opposition 20-13. 
 

Standfest earned seven of her points from the charity stripe while Lenz had two timely jumpers to keep the Huskies ahead, no bigger than the shot with 38 seconds to play with the shot clock expiring to keep the Black & Gold ahead by three (61-58).
 

Michigan Tech connected on three-of-four free throws with under 18 seconds to play, with a late shot by Weisbrod deciding the game at 64-59.
 

"Sending the seniors out on a win in the Wood Gym is a great feeling for us," Standfest mentioned. "I think we came out with great urgency and fire, that helped us get the win."

Fraaza led all scorers with 18 points as Weisbrod added 16 and Mackenzie Holzwart led the Wildcats with eight rebounds.