Michigan Tech guard Kendall Standfest drives around a Lake Superior State defender during a game Thursday at the SDC Gym in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — In three of four quarters Thursday, the Michigan Tech Huskies women’s basketball team outscored the visiting Lake Superior State Lakers as they found their way back into the win column, 89-76, at the SDC Gym.

With the win, the Huskies improved their record to 13-8 overall, and 7-6 in GLIAC play.

“Super important to come out strong tonight,” said Huskies coach Sam Clayton. “Obviously, coming off a couple losses is tough, and you can lose confidence in those. But, I thought we came out really confident shooting it well. Our offense was moving.”

The Huskies were led almost across the board by sophomore guard Kendall Standfest. She finished with a game-high, and season-high, 26 points. She also put up 17 rebounds for a double-double, and almost reached a triple-double thanks to seven assists.

“Obviously, Kendall had a phenomenal game,” said Clayton. “It was important for us to come out well. It was important for us to get that win, and, more importantly, just to play kind of like we’re capable, at least offensively. (We) can take some steps on defense. But, Lake State’s a good team. Credit to them, too.”

Standfest shot 9-of-16 from the floor, and 3-of-6 from beyond the arc in the game. She opened the game with a 3-pointer, just nine seconds into the game. It set the tone for her fifth-straight game in double figures in scoring.

“I think it’s just a confidence thing, honestly, which at the beginning of the year, I didn’t have as much confidence,” she said. “I’ve been playing with a lot more confidence, and it’s just a lot more fun. I’m getting open looks from good screens, setting up. Ella (Mason)’s doing a great job drawing the defense, so it gives me a more open look. It’s just been a lot more fun, and I’ve been playing more confidently.”

She had four of those seven assists in the first half as she was involved in moments where the Huskies created turnovers and then she found teammates with the ball. However, as the game went along, she had no idea how close she came to the triple-double.

“I knew I had quite a few assists, just because, in the first half, we had a bunch of transition points,” she said, “but I did not know.”

Along with Standfest, junior guard Alyssa Wypych had a huge night, scoring 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the floor. She put 15 of them in the first half, hitting a 3-pointer just 2:17 in and then adding a layup less than a minute later. In the late stages of the second quarter, she made an and-one with 3:08 left, then she hit her second 3-pointer with 1:24 left, and then added a layup less than 30 seconds later.

“She gets herself wide open layups, because she just times it,” Clayton said. “When people lose vision for one second, she just boom, and gets layups, 22 points. I’m like, ‘Wait, what when did she get 20?’ She had like 15 at half. I’m like, ‘Wait, what?’ They’re quiet because she does it in just the small ways, in the smart ways that matter, whether it be, an offensive rebound, a cut, catching those inside out looks.”

With Wypych closing out the second quarter strong, the Huskies turned a 25-18 lead after one quarter into a 49-35 lead at half.

Then Grace Bradford got hot for the Lakers in the third. She made four baskets and made all three free throw attempts she tried to pull Lake Superior State all the way back within five at 66-61 heading into the final 12 minutes.

In the fourth, senior guard Soraya Timms made a layup early and went 4-for-4 from the free throw line late to help the Huskies close out the game. She finished with 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the floor and was a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line.

The Huskies weren’t sure if sophomore guard Ella Mason was going to be available for the game, so junior guard Dani Nuest started in her place. Nuest had four points, three assists, and two steals in 29 minutes of play.

Mason played 20 minutes off the bench, and she went 4-of-11 from the floor to score 11 points.

“I like that scoring option off the bench,” said Clayton. “I know there’s been some games where we haven’t had a ton of production point-wise off the bench. So, nice to sub somebody in that you can run a set for. Maybe they’re (the opponent) not quite as ready for it, because they have subs coming in, and different matchups and things like that. But, Ella was good in her minutes.”

Up next

The Huskies are back on the court Saturday when they host Saginaw Valley State at the SDC Gym in Houghton. Opening tip is set for 12 p.m.