David Archambeau/For the Gazette Michigan Tech guard Isabella Lenz dribbles between a pair of Wisconsin-Parkside defenders during a game Thursday at the SDC Gym in Houghton.

By DAVER KARNOSKY

dkarnosky@mininggazette.com

HOUGHTON — It is sometimes easy to forget just how young the Michigan Tech Huskies women’s basketball team is, and that it will need time to mature. The Huskies learned another lesson along that path Thursday night as they fell in overtime to the Wisconsin-Parkside Rangers, 79-75, at the SDC Gym.

The Huskies held a seven point lead after 10 minutes, 19-12, then a one-point advantage at half, 30-29, then back up to a five-point lead with one quarter left, 51-46, but could not hold off the Rangers in the final 10 minutes, which allowed the visitors to tie the game and force the extra session.

With the loss, the Huskies dropped to 3-6 overall and 0-1 in GLIAC play.

“It’s another one we feel like we could have, would have, should have,” said Huskies coach Sam Clayton. “We’ve had a lot of those close games that we’ve lost where any single play throughout the game can be the difference.”

If there was one statistic that stood out to Clayton Thursday night, it was turnovers, as the Huskies committed 17, to just 10 by the Rangers.

“I think just too many turnovers,” she said. “We weren’t really valuing every possession. When you look statistically, that’s the biggest difference. We had 17 turnovers, they had 10. I think, late game, we didn’t get into our stuff that we wanted to or hit our screens. They made some big shots, and we came up short in that over time. Still super proud of our girls. I think we’re playing so hard, competing. I’m losing my voice, but we’re competing hard.”

Clayton has been tasking her team with remaining focused on defense, and she felt that, against the Rangers, there were times the Huskies did things the way she wanted time.

“We’ve been taking steps,” said Clayton. “I thought we defended really well in the first half again. Then it was just the missed box outs with 11 offensive rebounds in the first half. So, taking the steps. I’d like to take them faster, or bigger steps, but sometimes a young team, new team, you have to learn the lessons. I’m learning with every late game, close game, as well, what’s going to work for us, different lineups to try and whatnot. So, we’ll get there. We will turn the corner where these close games are going to go our way.”

The Huskies had three players in double figures, including senior Isabella Lenz, who led all scorers with 25 points. She also hit a crucial jump shot in the final seconds to push the Huskies into the lead, 64-62, with just 4.2 seconds left in regulation.

“She gave everything she had,” said Clayton of Lenz. “She played 45 minutes, which was probably not great, but she was so good, and she didn’t even look tired. I was like, ‘All right. Yeah.’ She obviously hit the huge shot to even send us to overtime.

“She’s led us on and off the floor all year, and will continue to do so. She came up with a big block again, late game. She’s doing it on both sides of the ball and leading us off the floor. So, I can’t say enough about what she’s done for us.”

Lenz took the inbounds play with just over 23 seconds left, waited for her opportunity, and then hit the jump shot. However, the Rangers found a way to even things with just 1.2 seconds left, forcing overtime.

In the extra time, Lenz added another five points.

Two other Huskies finished in double figures, with junior forward Maja Kozlowska pouring in 14, and fifth-year forward Janie Tormanen finishing with a double-double thanks to 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Tormanen had missed a pair of games, so having her back was a key to the Huskies’ game.

“We’re getting back healthy, and we’ll put it together,” Clayton said. “Janie, obviously, coming up with a double-double, had some great finishes, rebounds really well, defends really well.”

UP NEXT

The Huskies are back in action Saturday when they host Purdue Northwest at 12 p.m. at the SDC Gym.