Photo Credit: Michigan Tech

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Michigan Tech women’s basketball coach John Barnes said he wanted to get the ball into the post and score in today’s game. Mission accomplished.

The starting frontcourt of Danae Danen and Katie Wysocky combined for 44 points for the top-ranked Huskies in a 71-51 win over Texas A&M Commerce in the final game of the Drury Classic. The pair shot 21-of-30 from the field and also accounted for 20 rebounds to help their squad move to 3-0 on the season.

“One of our keys going into the game was to pound it inside,” said Barnes. “Danae had a great game. She posted strong, made good moves and scored. Katie was able to drive in the paint and finish.”

Danen was the go-to player in the first half as she made 8-of-9 field goals for 16 points. Tech led 28-18 at halftime despite going 0-of-9 from 3-point range in the opening frame.

Wysocky came alive in the second half. She had seven points in the first four minutes of the second half to help push the lead to 40-22. At one point, Danen and Wysocky had accounted for 35 of the team’s 42 points.

Lucy Dernovsek’s 3-pointer with 10:06 to go grew the margin to 52-31, and it was never less the 20 the rest of the way.

For the second straight game, Michigan Tech’s defense was stout. The Lions managed just 32 percent field goal shooting.

Tech connected on 49 percent (28-of-57) from the floor but was an uncharacteristic 2-of-16 from behind the arc. The Black and Gold did have 19 assists to just eight turnovers in the contest.

Wysocky posted her third straight double-double to open the season with 22 points and 11 rebounds along with four steals. Danen added 22 points and nine rebounds. Eight other Tech players had points, but nobody had more than five.

Michigan Tech will be off until a Dec. 3 game vs. Wayne State. The contest will serve as the Huskies home and Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener.