Michigan Tech guard Ella Mason attempts a 3-point shot during a game against Northern Michigan this season at Vandament Arena in Marquette. (Photo courtesy of Michigan Tech University)

MARQUETTE — Michigan Tech Huskies women’s basketball sophomore guard Ella Mason netted a career-high 30 points playing nearly in her home gym, but it was not enough to overcome the No. 21 Northern Michigan Wildcats. The Huskies fell, 74-66, in a GLIAC Tournament quarterfinal at Vandament Arena Wednesday evening.

Mason’s class accounted for 51 of the team’s 66 points as sophomore guard Kendall Standfest added 14 points to join Mason in double-figure scoring. Sophomore guard Kloe Zentkowski added seven points, and a team-high three steals.

Senior guard Soraya Timms and junior guard Alyssa Wypych finished with a team-high four assists, respectively.

“It was a heartbreaking loss,” said Huskies coach Sam Clayton. “I thought we competed hard and showed once again we’re right there with one of the top teams in the nation.

“We have a promising future if we keep working. We’re grateful for our seniors for their dedication to this program.”

Michigan Tech (16-13, 10-10 GLIAC) earned 22 points off 14 turnovers from Northern Michigan (25-6, 15-5 GLIAC) in the game as the Huskies won the turnover battle, with just five turnovers on the day, the fewest for a game this season.

The Huskies came out with authority to start the game and jumped out to a 10-3 lead just 6:16 in as Standfest hit two early 3-pointers as Zentkowski and Mason each contributed layups in the opening minutes.

Standfest led all scorers with eight points on 3-of-4 shooting in the quarter to hold a 16-13 advantage over the home team.

Northern Michigan controlled the second quarter, backed by a 53.8 percent performance from the field while knocking down 4-of-7 triples to outscore the Huskies 22-12 in the quarter. The Wildcats used a 10-0 scoring run, capped by a 3-pointer by Jacy Weisbrod with 2:46 to go, to give Northern Michigan a 25-23 edge, before four-straight points by Sydney Whitehouse to make it 35-28 heading into half.

The Huskies trailed most of the third quarter aside from an offensive rebound and putback by junior forward Maja Kozlowska putting the Huskies back ahead by a point, 38-37, at the 6:16 mark. Mason went 4-of-9 in the quarter to lead all scorers with 11 points, although the Huskies trailed by 11 entering the fourth quarter.

An early 3-pointer by Whitehouse to start the quarter gave the home team its largest lead of the day, 57-43. However, the Huskies did not back down and saw 15 points by Mason in the final period, shooting 5-of-10 from the field and going a period 3-of-3 from the free throw line.

Mason splashed a 3-pointer to make it a two-point affair with 1:31 to play, but the two teams had timely shots fall down the stretch as C.J. Romero knocked down a triple for the home team on the next trip down the floor to make it a five-point advantage.

Free throws by Whitehouse made it a seven-point game before Mason cashed in another 3-pointer to cut the lead back to four with 46 seconds to go. The Huskies had a chance off a Wildcat turnover to make it a one-possession game, but the layup attempt by Mason did not fall and Michigan Tech was forced to foul, ultimately deciding the game after four foul shots by Northern Michigan sealed things.

The Wildcats had three players reach double-figure scoring, led by a career-high 25 points from Whitehouse, who shot 7-of-9 from the field and a perfect 8-of-8 from the charity stripe. Weisbrod added 17 points and Newcomer added 16 points and three assists.