GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Michigan Tech women’s basketball team rallied for an 85-81 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory in overtime Thursday night at the DeltaPlex in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In a game the seesawed back and forth all night, the Huskies tied the game with less than 30 seconds to play in the fourth quarter and then battled back from a three-point deficit at the start of overtime to prevail over the Lakers.

“Tonight’s game was a battle the entire time and a gutsy win for our team,” Michigan Tech Head Coach Kim Cameron said. “This is a tough place to play and it wasn’t the prettiest game we played under any circumstances because Grand Valley State makes you earn everything you get. It’s very hard to score, get a stop on defense, and keep them from getting to the free throw line. If you can find a way to gut it out, which is exactly what we did tonight, you give yourself a chance to win and that’s what we were able to do.”

Neither side held a lead greater than five points in the fourth period. A Heise free throw deadlocked the score at 74-74 with 28 seconds left. Tech’s defense then stood tall and prevented the Lakers from winning in regulation.

The Lakers jumped out to a 77-74 lead one minute into overtime, but a couple of key layups by Elizabeth Kelliher helped keep GVSU from pulling away. Hannah Stoll eventually gave the Huskies the lead back at 80-79 with 1:12 to go. Cassidy Boensch tilted the scale back in the Lakers favor 81-80 on the ensuing possession, but a jumper in the lane by Heise put Tech back on top for good. The defense stepped up to force a pair of missed shots and then Stoll along with Heise iced the game away at the free throw line to seal the 85-81 victory.

The Huskies will be back in action on Saturday when they travel to Purdue Northwest for another GLIAC contest. The tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.