Photo Credit: Michigan Tech

HOUGHTON, Mich. — The Michigan Tech women’s basketball team trailed by as many as 19 points before rallying for a 78-74 overtime win against Hillsdale tonight at the SDC Gym. The Huskies used a 19-2 run to start the second half and outscored the Chargers 9-5 in the extra session  to improve to 13-1 overall and 8-1 in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play.

Hillsdale came out gunning in the opening half by making 7-of-11 3-pointers and 53 percent from the field overall. The visitors led by as many as 19 points in the stanza. In addition to the hot shooting, HC posted a 24-12 rebounding edge.

Tech raced back into the game with a 19-2 spurt in the first five minutes of the second half. Katie Zimmerman’s third 3-pointer during the run pulled the hosts within 48-47. Hillsdale answered with the next five points for a 53-47 advantage with 13:02 to play.

The margin remained at least four points until Lindsey Lindstrom drove for a layup then swished two free throws to knot the score at 61 at 5:34. Danae Danen gave Tech its first lead since 3-0 with a layup at the 4:55 mark. The teams traded one-point leads down the stretch until Katie Wysocky made 1-of-2 free throws for a 69-67 lead with 16 seconds to play. Hillsdale’s Janay Miller sent the game into overtime with a baseline drive and layup at the buzzer.

Hillsdale had four chances to score to start overtime with three straight offensive rebounds. Danen broke the deadlock with a lay-in on Tech’s first offensive possession. Zimmerman then drained a 3-pointer for a five-point lead, the Huskies’ largest of the game. . HC answered immediately with a triple and Chelsea Harrison’s 21st point of the game. The visitors eventually tied the game and had a chance to take the lead with 43 ticks remaining. Wysocky grabbed the rebound off the miss, then Stream went one-on-one and got a pull-up jumper to crawl over the front edge of the rim at :25. Stream then blocked a Brooke Knight eight-foot jumper with six seconds left.. Danen iced the game at the free throw line.

“We didn’t show up with intensity,” said head coach John Barnes. “They wanted it more in the first half, and we made some critical mistakes defensively.

“We came out really well in the second half and battled down the stretch. We wanted to close it out in regulation, but happy that we did in overtime.”

Five Huskies scored in double figures. Danen tallied 21 points (19 after halftime), nine rebounds and four blocks to pace the Huskies. Wysocky added 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Stream set a career high in blocks with four, and also had 12 points and six assists. Zimmerman (12 points) and Lindstrom (10) also reached twin digits.

Tech shot 48 percent in the game including 6-of-22 (27 percent) from 3-point range. Hillsdale shot just 37 percent in the second half and 22 percent in overtime to finish at 43 for the game. HC also made 9-of-17 3-pointers (53 percent).

Tech was outrebounded 43-34 but committed only 10 turnovers to Hillsdale’s 14.

Michigan Tech plays again at home on Saturday (Jan. 16) with a 12 noon tipoff vs. Findlay.