Michigan Tech forward Janie Tormanen attempts a layup during a game last season against Ferris State at the SDC Gym in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — Starting the season off with the D2 Midwest Region Tip-Off, the Michigan Tech Huskies women’s basketball team got off to a very strong start with wins over Lewis, 68-55, and Upper Iowa, 70-30. And yet, according to coach Sam Clayton, they could have been better.

“Feels good. I would much prefer to be 2-0 than any alternative, but mostly proud of how our team defended both games,” she said. “I thought we came out with defensive urgency. In all preseason, that’s been our point of emphasis, just focusing on the defensive side of the ball, outworking, outlasting opponents, focusing on one of our core values, which is grit. I think the defensive side of the game is so much about that. So I was mostly proud of how we defended well.

“To hold any team to 30 points, I think, is impressive. Going back and watching, I think we could have been better. That’s always going to be the case. So, there’s things we can learn. We gave up some straight line drives that shouldn’t have happened. I think our offensive movement could have been better that game, ball reversals. So, still a lot to learn. But yeah, proud of our team for holding an opponent to 30 points.”

Beyond the play of the defense, another very bright spot for the Huskies, especially against Lewis, was the play of senior guard Soraya Timms. Timms missed all of her sophomore and junior seasons to injury, but came out Friday night, played 32 minutes, and scored a team-high 17 points.

Clayton was so proud of the moment for Timms.

“Honestly, I don’t even know if I can describe what that felt like for me,” Clayton said. “She’s been through so much the past two years with having to sit out and different things going on. I was excited for her to be able to play, but you never know how that’s going to go when someone’s been out for two years. But, she came in with just such a great mindset, aggressive and just leading us vocally with her energy, defensively, getting us into stuff offensively. She really just has all those intangibles at the point guard position, and makes a huge difference for us. So, so happy for her.

“Words can’t really describe just how joyful it made me to see her be able to play, because that’s what she’s wanted so bad for years. She puts in so much time, and she deserved to have a great night like that.”

With Timms rejoining the team in a big way, the Huskies have scoring depth they were missing last season, when often they turned to then-freshman guard Kendall Standfest and needed a double-double out of her most nights to stay in games.

“I think everyone is excited for this year, because we do have, I think, five, six, seven players that can be 15-plus point scorers any given night, which makes you a lot harder to guard,” said Clayton. “Then nobody feels that pressure. ‘Oh, I have to have a good game here. I have to score all the points.’ We don’t have that. Kendall doesn’t need to put up a double-double every night. Or Soraya or Ella (Mason) or whoever, Janie (Tormanen). But, I think it is nice that we have that depth. I’ve been able to talk to all of our players, because they just feel a lot less pressure. I think this year, where it’s, ‘OK, we have so many capable scorers. If I’m not feeling it. I can give it up.'” We can get the ball moving, and we have a lot of different options, whether it be perimeter or post.”

Mason, who put up 14 against Michigan State in an exhibition, only had six points all weekend. The sophomore did start both games, and Clayton knows her offense will come.

“Ella is a phenomenal scorer, I don’t think we saw any of that this weekend,” Clayton said. “I literally just got done shooting with her, and were just laughing, because she probably couldn’t have played worse offensively, just to be honest. But, she is a really capable scorer, and people have to respect her as a scorer, even if she’s having an off night. I think that’s great, because she can just help us space the floor, and talked to her about that, because we have other scorers, ‘OK, it wasn’t your night. Still defend, still bring energy, and we’ll be just fine.”

Scouting the Bulldogs

The Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs are 1-1 this season after losing to Northwestern Oklahoma State on Friday in the GAC/NSIC Challenge before defeating Southeastern Oklahoma State on Saturday.

They are led by sophomore shooting guard Claire Bjorge, who is averaging 14.0 points per game. Senior guard Myra Moorjani is also off to a good start, averaging 9.5 points per game.

Scouting the Huskies

The St. Cloud State Huskies are 2-0 to start the season, having defeated Washburn and Central Oklahoma in the GAC/NSIC Challenge last weekend.

They are led by senior guard Jada Eggebrecht, who is averaging 17.5 points per game and junior guard Alana Zarneke, who is averaging 15.5 points per game.

Junior forward Paige Lambe has given St. Cloud a viable third option offensively as well, averaging 9.0 points per game.

Similarities to Michigan Tech

“Duluth and St. Cloud are both really good teams in the NSIC,” said Clayton. “They both had down years last year, similar to us actually with injuries and different things. But, this year they’re both going to be really good teams. Watching some film on them, they’re long, they’re athletic, they’re very similar defensively, where they don’t give you easy shots, they don’t switch a lot, they make everything difficult.

“So, that’s where I’m saying we have to get some ball reversals. We have to get them moving. We have to get them talking where they’re going to have to guard some different actions if we want to get good shots. Then defensively, I think they both have a lot of scoring threats. Duluth specifically, their post player is a really good returning post for them, and they return most of their roster. Their guards can shoot it, they’re long, athletic, can get to the rim. So yeah, we’re going to have to be good in both games, but I think we are good and I think we’re up for the challenge.”

Game times

Michigan Tech and Minnesota-Duluth have opening tip set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the SDC Gym in Houghton. Friday, Michigan Tech and St. Cloud will also battle starting at 5:30 p.m.