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Stoll thrives in increased role for Tech, scores career-high 18 points

Michigan Tech’s Hannah Stoll shoots over Minnesota Duluth’s Sarah Grow during the first half Monday, at the Wood Gym. Stoll led Tech with a career-high 18 points. (David Archambeau/Daily Mining Gazette)

HOUGHTON — When the Huskies hit the practice floor, one unlucky player is tasked with something they all try to avoid: guarding Hannah Stoll.

The 6-foot senior forward is lanky and athletic, often scoring with graceful ease. The Huskies hate guarding her, but they sure love playing with her. 

“She is everyone’s least favorite person to guard in practice,” head coach Kim Cameron said. “Her teammates have really been encouraging her to act like that against other teams, instead of her own team. They’ve really been pushing her to become the player she is right now.”

Stoll acted the part against Minnesota Duluth, scoring a career-high 18 points in Tech’s 79-70 home victory on Monday. She was 7 of 14 shooting. 

She came out hot, shooting early and often. Stoll put the first eight points on the board for Tech. She opened the game with a baseline jumper and a 3-point play, and followed it up with a 3-pointer from the top of the key, giving Tech an 8-2 lead. 

“Our players just love her and love when she scores,” Cameron said. “She’s a fan favorite, and she’s so long and athletic that everything looks so good when she does it. I think it is a huge advantage, a huge crowd-pleaser and team-pleaser. When she is on fire, you can see how explosive she can be and what a threat she is.”

Stoll ended the first half with 15 points, one less than her previous career-high, which came on Nov. 11 at Ursuline.

Stoll said she wasn’t doing anything special against Duluth. The senior simply attacked with a scorer’s mentality and took what the defense gave her.

“I think as a team, Duluth played us really tough, but we were doing a good job finding all of the openings on offense and I just took advantage of it,” she said. “I think it could be anybody on any given day, and it was just me for the first quarter.”

Stoll cooled in the second half, going 1 of 5, but her overtime lay-in helped stifle a persistent Duluth, giving Tech a 65-62 lead, and Stoll her new career-high.

“[In the second half] I didn’t feel like I was the open person anymore and that is totally fine,” she said. “We found other openings and we were getting the ball distributed to other people on the team.”

For Stoll, the main goal this season is to contribute in any way she can. The senior has seen her minutes rise each year and more than double from last season. In 2016-2017 she played 12.8 minutes a game. Now, through five games, she has ratcheted up that number to 27.8. 

With increased minutes has come increased points. After averaging 2.6 points over her first three years, Stoll is scoring 10.2 a game this season. And her role for Tech has taken a different shape. 

“She is relied upon,” Cameron said. “We expect her to maintain her high level of intensity.”

Her offense was on full display against Duluth in the first half, but Cameron says Stoll, who also grabbed seven rebounds, is a well-rounded player.  The Huskies trust her just as much on defense as they do on offense. 

“She has also guarded two players of the year in other conferences this year and has done a great job of shutting them down,” Cameron said. “She has actually taken on a new defensive role that we have been happy with.”

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