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Huskies hold off Wildcats for key victory Saturday, 55-53

By Ryan Stieg 5 min read
MARQUETTE — Just like the bitterly frigid air outside the Berry Events Center, the Northern Michigan University women’s basketball team started its rivalry game against Michigan Tech ice cold. The Huskies rolled early and built what looked like a solid lead heading into the fourth quarter, but the Wildcats clawed their way back. NMU cut its deficit down to one point in the closing seconds, but it wasn’t enough as Tech topped the Wildcats 55-53. Lexi Smith led Northern with 12 points, while Liz Lutz had 11. Tech’s Abbie Botz led all scorers with 13 points and Elizabeth Kelliher had 11. “I thought Michigan Tech out-toughed us all night long,” NMU head coach Troy Mattson said. “They played harder than us. They made it difficult for us, no matter where we had the basketball, and that’s a credit to them. “We had opportunities to finish some layups and some free throws and we didn’t do a very good job of that. That just compounds everything. “Credit Michigan Tech. They came to play. They did a great job and they had girls step up and make 3s. When they had the big 3s, we didn’t respond very well.” Meanwhile, things were much more positive as new Huskies head coach and Tech alum Sam Hoyt got her first win over the Wildcats. “I thought it was a really competitive game as I knew it would be,” Hoyt said. “Going into any Tech-Northern game, it’s going to come down to the wire and you’re going to have to fight for any win. “I thought our girls, for especially the first three quarters, we defended really hard. We executed our game plan well and then there in the fourth quarter, Northern made adjustments. “Obviously, Troy is a great coach and had their players playing well. When we were digging a little bit, they were kicking out and hitting open 3s, so they made it pretty close at the end. Luckily, we were able to hold on just enough for the win.” NMU (14-5, 9-2 GLIAC) started to make its rally with just under eight minutes left. A 3-pointer by Jessica Schultz started things off, and with 5:55 left, a triple from Sydney Dillinger got the Wildcats within single digits at 46-37. A jumper by Lutz and a layup by Smith whittled Tech’s lead to five with 2:12 left. After two free throws by Botz, Smith hit a jumper and NMU was back within five with 41 seconds to go at 50-45. Then with 28 seconds remaining, Lutz hit a triple and the Wildcats were down just three of the Huskies (12-7, 8-3). Down by four with 14 seconds left, Tess Weatherly made a trey and Northern had cut the game to just one. However, Tech’s Ellie Mackay made a free throw with two seconds left and Botz picked off NMU’s last-second pass to set up a game-winning shot. When asked about his team’s rally, Mattson shrugged it off and instead gave the Huskies credit for stopping it. “You can say we had a chance, but they dictated that game from start to just about finish,” he said. “Just because we had a little, late five-minute flurry, we made it look like we had a great comeback. They dictated everything that went on in that game the whole time. “We didn’t answer the physical nature that they were playing. We’re supposed to be a pretty physical team and I’m just giving all the credit to Michigan Tech. “Like I said earlier this week, I’m going to wake up in the morning and get ready for (Wisconsin-)Parkside. Win or lose, that’s what has to happen.” Tech was clearly the sharper team from the start. While the Wildcats were making turnovers and sloppy passes, the Huskies took an 11-3 lead on a 3-pointer by Houghton native Sloane Zenner. Two free throws from Jessica Schultz pulled Northern within three of the Huskies, but a layup by Abbie Botz and another triple from Zenner ended the Wildcats’ run. Tech led 16-9 after one. A trey by Mackay put Tech up by double digits at 23-11 with 6:28 left in the second and with 3:05 remaining, she dropped in three free throws to give the Huskies a 31-15 advantage. For NMU, it’s back to the drawing board as the Wildcats head out on the road to play in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Thursday. “We’re going to have to show that we want to win this week,” Mattson said. “That’s the big key. We really want to step up to the plate. We’ve got seven of our last nine on the road. It’s not going to be easy. “We’ve just got to make sure that we come back focused and ready to go play on the road. Get a little winning streak going here and see where it leads.”

MARQUETTE -- Just like the bitterly frigid air outside the Berry Events Center, the Northern Michigan University women's basketball team started its rivalry game against Michigan Tech ice cold.

The Huskies rolled early and built what looked like a solid lead heading into the fourth quarter, but the Wildcats clawed their way back.

NMU cut its deficit down to one point in the closing seconds, but it wasn't enough as Tech topped the Wildcats 55-53.

Lexi Smith led Northern with 12 points, while Liz Lutz had 11. Tech's Abbie Botz led all scorers with 13 points and Elizabeth Kelliher had 11.

"I thought Michigan Tech out-toughed us all night long," NMU head coach Troy Mattson said. "They played harder than us. They made it difficult for us, no matter where we had the basketball, and that's a credit to them.

"We had opportunities to finish some layups and some free throws and we didn't do a very good job of that. That just compounds everything.

"Credit Michigan Tech. They came to play. They did a great job and they had girls step up and make 3s. When they had the big 3s, we didn't respond very well."

Meanwhile, things were much more positive as new Huskies head coach and Tech alum Sam Hoyt got her first win over the Wildcats.

"I thought it was a really competitive game as I knew it would be," Hoyt said. "Going into any Tech-Northern game, it's going to come down to the wire and you're going to have to fight for any win.

"I thought our girls, for especially the first three quarters, we defended really hard. We executed our game plan well and then there in the fourth quarter, Northern made adjustments.

"Obviously, Troy is a great coach and had their players playing well. When we were digging a little bit, they were kicking out and hitting open 3s, so they made it pretty close at the end. Luckily, we were able to hold on just enough for the win."

NMU (14-5, 9-2 GLIAC) started to make its rally with just under eight minutes left. A 3-pointer by Jessica Schultz started things off, and with 5:55 left, a triple from Sydney Dillinger got the Wildcats within single digits at 46-37.

A jumper by Lutz and a layup by Smith whittled Tech's lead to five with 2:12 left. After two free throws by Botz, Smith hit a jumper and NMU was back within five with 41 seconds to go at 50-45.

Then with 28 seconds remaining, Lutz hit a triple and the Wildcats were down just three of the Huskies (12-7, 8-3). Down by four with 14 seconds left, Tess Weatherly made a trey and Northern had cut the game to just one.

However, Tech's Ellie Mackay made a free throw with two seconds left and Botz picked off NMU's last-second pass to set up a game-winning shot.

When asked about his team's rally, Mattson shrugged it off and instead gave the Huskies credit for stopping it.

"You can say we had a chance, but they dictated that game from start to just about finish," he said. "Just because we had a little, late five-minute flurry, we made it look like we had a great comeback. They dictated everything that went on in that game the whole time.

"We didn't answer the physical nature that they were playing. We're supposed to be a pretty physical team and I'm just giving all the credit to Michigan Tech.

"Like I said earlier this week, I'm going to wake up in the morning and get ready for (Wisconsin-)Parkside. Win or lose, that's what has to happen."

Tech was clearly the sharper team from the start. While the Wildcats were making turnovers and sloppy passes, the Huskies took an 11-3 lead on a 3-pointer by Houghton native Sloane Zenner. Two free throws from Jessica Schultz pulled Northern within three of the Huskies, but a layup by Abbie Botz and another triple from Zenner ended the Wildcats' run. Tech led 16-9 after one.

A trey by Mackay put Tech up by double digits at 23-11 with 6:28 left in the second and with 3:05 remaining, she dropped in three free throws to give the Huskies a 31-15 advantage.

For NMU, it's back to the drawing board as the Wildcats head out on the road to play in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Thursday.

"We're going to have to show that we want to win this week," Mattson said. "That's the big key. We really want to step up to the plate. We've got seven of our last nine on the road. It's not going to be easy.

"We've just got to make sure that we come back focused and ready to go play on the road. Get a little winning streak going here and see where it leads."

Starting at /week.