However, that total was two more than the Huskies themselves managed offensively in a 51-49 loss that ended their season.

“Honestly, we came out, and we defended really well,” said Huskies coach Sam Clayton. “Our urgency was great. I think to hold Parkside to 51, when they averaged 75, 76 points a game, was phenomenal.”

The flip side of that great defense, unfortunately, was a lack of finishing on the other end for Michigan Tech.

“We just didn’t do the other part, where we had to finish some of those shots at the rim,” Clayton said. “They weren’t calling a lot of fouls in general. I mean, what, three free throws a whole game, something like that. We were fouling at the end. Then you have to be able to finish with contact. You have to be able to adjust to that. Yeah, we just didn’t finish enough at the rim.”

Michigan Tech coach Sam Clayton discusses strategy with her team during a time out in a GLIAC quarterfinal matchup against Wisconsin-Parkside Wednesday at the SDC Gym in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

The Huskies came out and struck first on Kaitlyn Meister layup just 21 seconds into the game. That put the fifth-year guard within two points of reaching 1,000 for her career. She was able to finish that feat off to start the second quarter with her second layup of the evening, becoming the third player this season to do so for Michigan Tech.

“She’s just been a staple player for us for four years,” said Clayton. “Her freshman year she played a little, but since then, I mean, starting, great player, even better person, but she’s just so tough with her footwork around the rim, her ability to finish. She can shoot it. She’s so good defensively, being able to guard multiple positions, so, super proud of her. To be able to finish her career getting 1,000, that’s awesome for her, and it is a great accomplishment.”

Five minutes later, sophomore forward Maja Kozlowska, who had six points in the first quarter alone, followed up a three from freshman guard Alyssa Wypych with a layup to put the Huskies up three, 20-17.

Kozlowska was held off the board offensively from there until the fourth quarter, where she made two layups five minutes apart to help pull the Huskies back within two 49-47. Meister then evened the game at 49-49 just under a minute later to set up the game’s finishing sequence.

“Really encouraging for the future of the program,” said Clayton, when asked about the impact of Kozlowska. “Yes, she stepped up big time for us when Sara (Dax) went out, and then even with Sara back, we were able to just use a little bit more size in there, and she finished well. Obviously, she’s got to get her footwork down a little bit better. They were calling the travel this game, but she has a really tough hook.”

The game remained tied until the Rangers’ Paty Gallasova lobbed a pass inside to Chloe Van Zeeland under the basket with 53.0 seconds left. Van Zeeland backed up a step and made a layup to give the Rangers the two-point lead.

Junior guard Isabella Lenz, who led all Huskies with 13 points, had seven of those points in the drive to even the game for the Huskies. She received the ball with under 50 seconds left in the contest and attempted to find a teammate with 44.5 seconds left, but her pass bounced out of the reach of everyone on the court.

Clayton took the blame for the miscommunication on the play.

“I don’t know what the misunderstanding was with what we had drawn up, but there was clearly a misunderstanding, which has to be my fault,” Clayton said. “I didn’t make it clear where we were going, and who needed to be there, and when. That’s on me.”

The Huskies did get the ball back in the game’s final 25 seconds, and twice Clayton used a timeout to discuss strategy. With less than four seconds remaining, the Huskies got the ball to Lenz, and she drove to the paint, but her jump shot hit the glass and missed, essentially ending the game.

In all, the Huskies finished the season 15-12. After a loss to Parkside on Jan. 18, the Huskies were just 7-8 overall and 3-4 in GLIAC play. From that game forward, the Huskies lost only three more times during the regular season and pushed their way into top-4 seed for the GLIAC Tournament.

“Overall, super proud of our team in general,” said Clayton. “For us to even be able to host a home game this year, with how we started, and with the adversity, whether it be one player out and then another player out, for us to be able to come back and be able to end up fourth in the conference and get this game, I think it was a great year.”

Clayton’s message to her team was that she was proud of everything they accomplished.

“I told our players, no matter what the record was going to be this year, it’s going to be a great year, because we have great people and that’s still true,” she said. “I wouldn’t want anyone else in that locker room.”