Michigan Tech forward Janie Tormanen elevates to attempt a layup during a game against Ferris State Saturday at the SDC Gym in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — The Michigan Tech Huskies women’s basketball team played a great first 17 minutes Saturday, but a three-minute stretch changed things as they fell behind the No. 22 Ferris State Bulldogs by 15 at half. In the second half, that deficit moved to 20 before the Huskies shaved it all way down to five points with 4:33 to play, but ultimately fell, 73-64, to the Bulldogs, at the SDC Gym Saturday.

Senior forward Janie Tormanen recorded her third double-double of the season, leading the team with 21 points on an efficient 9-of-11 shooting while adding 11 rebounds, as senior guard Soraya Timms added 17 points, including a career-high five 3-pointers to go with three assists and three steals.

“I think I did a lot of screaming, ‘Get it in,’ because she was whatever, 7-for-7 at one point or something,” said Huskies coach Sam Clayton. “They couldn’t stop her, so we wanted her to be aggressive when she caught it in there. Thought she could have even been more aggressive. It was great to see her not just finish at the basket, she rebounded really well for us.”

Michigan Tech (9-5, 3-3 GLIAC) won the rebounding battle 39-26 but succumbed to 21 turnovers to Ferris State (11-3, 4-1 GLIAC), who saw Kadyn Blanchard lead the Bulldogs with 33 points (11-of-19) and six rebounds.

“Obviously, disappointed with a loss, but I was proud of the way we responded after being down by 20,” said Clayton. “We fought back and got it to within five points and it was great to see Soraya be aggressive offensively. I think she needed a good game to get her confidence back. Then, Janie did a great job inside when we got it to her. If we can take care of the ball better, then we’re in a great position.”

Both teams shot over 50% from the field in the first quarter, which showcased seven ties and nine lead changes. Tormanen and the Bulldogs’ Blanchard each recorded 10 points in the opening period as Timms chipped in two 3-pointers. The Bulldogs earned five-straight points by Blanchard in the stanza with a trey and then two free throws to take a 24-21 lead into the second quarter.

The Huskies were keeping pace with the Bulldogs in the second quarter before Ferris State went on a 14-0 run over the final 3:18 of the half to take a 15-point advantage into the break. The Bulldogs shot 52.9% in the quarter to outscore the Huskies 21-9.

“They turned us over, I bet, five times in that last three minutes,” Clayton said. “I don’t have the stats for that time frame, but turnover, layup, turnover, layup. When you’re not getting shots up and they’re getting 90% shots at the rim stuff.”

Michigan Tech bounced back in the third quarter, shooting 60 percent from the field, while knocking down three 3-pointers with Timms knocking down two on back-to-back possessions before Tormanen converted on two buckets from down low as part of a 10-2 run, pulling the Huskies back within seven, and concluding the scoring in the quarter at 58-51.

“That confidence came back, the ball movement,” said Clayton. “We were playing inside out. I think that was the biggest thing. We were taking care of the ball so we could run our offense. Because, I think, we’re a really good offensive team. We’re a good team.

“We have to keep believing in that. We have to stick together. We just have to take a couple steps, and then we’re in a position where we’re competing with beating some of these ranked teams.”

After retaking a double-digit lead early in the fourth quarter, the Huskies cut the lead down to five points, forcing Ferris State to talk it over ahead 63-58 with 6:37 to play. Junior guard Alyssa Wypych had two layups sandwiched between a trey by Tormanen as part of the spurt.

The Huskies would make it a two-possession game again with 4:33 to go off a layup by sophomore guard Kendall Standfest, although the Bulldogs got separation for the final time, going 6-9 from the foul line from the 3:23 mark to the finish, stopping a potential Michigan Tech comeback with a final score of 73-64.

Sophomore guard Ella Mason scored 13 points, adding six rebounds, as Wypych also reached double digits with 10 points, along with six rebounds.

Up next

After four consecutive games at home to start the year, the Huskies will take to the road next week, traveling to Saginaw Valley State on Thursday before heading to Lake Superior State on Saturday.