David Archambeau/For the Gazette Michigan Tech guard Isabella Lenz jumps to attempt a layup during a game against Grand Valley State Saturday at the SDC Gym in Houghton.

DETROIT — After a tough split last week against the Davenport Panthers and the No. 1 Grand Valley State Lakers, the Michigan Tech Huskies women’s basketball team is still two games under .500 overall and even in GLIAC play. Facing a pair of opponents they have already beaten this season, the Huskies are looking to improve upon their 9-11 record overall and 6-6 record in conference play.

Coach Sam Clayton admitted that while the Huskies defeated the Panthers on Thursday before falling to the Lakers on Saturday, she actually felt like the Huskies were better in the loss than they were in the win.

“I honestly feel like we did not play well Thursday and got the win,” she said. “So it was, yeah, we won, but it was a disappointing game. We didn’t execute. We didn’t come out with a ton of urgency.

“Then on Saturday, I thought we did. We came out with that fire. We competed for a good three, three and a half quarters. So, it was good to see that. I’d almost rather have that. That loss on Saturday, where we’re playing well and actually getting better and executing what we need to do now.”

Clayton admitted that she felt that her team played well for most of the game Saturday, but seemed to run out of gas late.

“I do think we kind of fell short in the fourth, where we didn’t execute defensively down the stretch, they got some good looks, and then shots didn’t fall for us,” she said. “We got some good looks there in the fourth that didn’t fall. Then they were able to pull away. So, yeah, kind of a weird weekend with how I felt about it, but I think we got better, and we’re prepared even better for the games coming up this week.”

Clayton challenged the Huskies to bring more effort defensively on Saturday, and she feels as though the promise they showed will help the Huskies down the stretch.

“I’m hoping just being able to come out like that Saturday, and really compete in front of our home crowd, showed that we can play with some of the best teams in the nation, (which) gives us that confidence,” she said. “Hopefully, (it) even (gives us) that urgency of, ‘OK, we’re coming down to the last few weeks of the season here. Every game is a huge game, and has big implications.’ So, (we are hoping to) be able to just use that to fuel us the rest of the season.”

One big bonus in the two weeks has been the consistent play of freshman guard Kendall Standfest, who continues to improve with every game she is involved in.

“I think Kendall has been great the past few games,” said Clayton. “When she’s aggressive, we just look better as a team. She can create her own shot, but she’s also a pretty good passer, and can slow herself down.

“When she picks it up, she’s very patient, waiting for other people to cut and find openings. So, great to see that. We’re going to continue to try to put the ball in her hands, because she can create offense for us, as can Bella (Lenz). Then our posts have been doing a good job as well, getting the ball inside and creating some inside-out looks.”

Clayton feels that the Huskies’ offense is deep, and that should help down the stretch as well.

“I think we’re really balanced,” she said. “At any given game, we’ll have four or five players in double-digit scoring, and I truly believe any of our players are capable of going off. They all put in so much time outside of practice getting their shots up, finishing, so I feel comfortable really putting it in anybody’s hands.

“We share the ball pretty well where no one’s going to try to just do it themselves. So, I do feel good about where we’re at offensively, when we’re able to play inside-out, and get those paint touches.”

At the same time, the career of Lenz is coming to a close. She has eight games left in the regular season, a season that has seen her average 14.1 points per game. Clayton wants her to relax over the final four weeks, and not feel as though she has to be the focal point of the offense.

“Bella has had a phenomenal career,” Clayton said. “I don’t even like to think about it ending, her graduating. She just needs to keep doing what she’s been doing. She can’t overthink it. She can’t put too much pressure on herself. Sometimes seniors can do that.

“She just needs to play like she’s capable. She needs to know that she can trust her teammates, which she does. I know that she does. She has so many other capable players where it’s just doing what she does. That’s defending like crazy, making things difficult for the other team, leading us on and off the floor, and just making the great decisions that she typically does.”

SCOUTING THE

WARRIORS

The Wayne State Warriors come into this weekend 13-7 overall and 8-4 in GLIAC play after a weekend that saw them sweep Purdue Northwest and Wisconsin-Parkside.

Junior forward Taylor Thompson leads the team offensively, averaging 12.9 points per game, which is tops amongst a group of four who are all in double figures. Sophomore guard McKenna Ferguson averages 12.4, senior forward Shea Tripp averages 12.3, and junior forward Gabi Lutchka averages 10.3.

SCOUTING THE

CARDINALS

The Saginaw Valley State Cardinals come into this weekend 11-9 overall and 5-7 in GLIAC play after losing Wayne State, beating Roosevelt, and then losing to Wisconsin-Parkside last week.

They are led offensively by sophomore forward Megan McCalla, who is averaging 17.1 points per game. Senior guard Aleshia Jones is also having a strong final season, averaging 14.3 points per game.

GAME TIMES

The Huskies and Warriors are set to tip-off Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in Detroit. Saturday, the Huskies and Cardinals are scheduled for a 1 p.m. start in University Center.