×

Trotting to victory: Huskies earn win in GLIAC quarterfinal over Northwood

HOUGHTON — The Michigan Tech Huskies woman’s basketball team earned their ticket to the GLIAC semifinals as they defeated the Northwood Timberwolves, 78-48, in conference quarterfinal action Tuesday night in the Wood Gym.

This was the third time these two teams had met this season and Tech swept the series.

The game was very much the tale of two halves. The Timberwolves, for the most part, were the team to beat in the first two periods as they made their shots and led for the majority of the second quarter.

“They came out with a little more urgency and ready to play more than we did,” said Huskies coach Sam Hoyt. “Luckily, we were able to flip the switch in the third period.”

Northwood took their biggest lead, four points, in the second at the 7:47 mark with a 24-20 lead. However, the Huskies shot their way back in to the game with a nine-point run of unanswered points to close the first half with a lead, 31-27.

For the rest of the game, it was all Huskies.

“We came out of halftime with a way better sense of urgency and offensively, we moved the ball better,” Hoyt said.

The Huskies came out with a run of eight points in the third while the Timberwolves could not find the basket for the first three minutes.

Cassidy Trotter led the charge for Tech with a career-high 20 points. She was deadly under the basket as she worked her way inside and scored numerous layups.

Michigan Tech as a team outscored the Timberwolves, 42-14, in the paint. Equally impressive was the play of the MTU bench, which outscored Northwood 22-0.

Besides Trotter, the Huskies once again had three other players end the game in double figures. Elizabeth Kelliher had 12 points, Abbie Botz scored 11 and Sloane Zenner poured in 10 points.

“That what is so great about coaching this team is that almost every night have four or five players in double figures,” said Hoyt. “We don’t have one person necessarily to take over for us, but we have a bunch of different players. I trust every person I put in is going to step up and is going to score and make good decisions.”

For the Timberwolves, Grace German led the scoring with 15 points. She was followed by Hunter Vitala who scored 12.

Hoyt added that while she was glad her team pulled away in the second half, moving forward they are not going to have that luxury.

“We need to play four full quarters,” she said.

With the win, the Huskies will head to Grand Valley State University to face Ashland University — a team they lost to 80-58 in early January while on the road.

“The team and I have been wanting this game (rematch) since we played them at their place,” said Hoyt. “We match up well against them as a team. We will need to slow them down in transition. If we can execute again like we did tonight, then we have a shot at them. Our girls are looking forward to playing them again.”

GAME TIME

The Huskies will tip-off against the second seed, Ashland, at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday at Grand Valley State.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today