Michigan Tech Game Notes (PDF)
Thurs. Dec. 6 • 5:30 p.m. vs Parkside • Sat. Dec. 8 • 1 p.m. vs Purdue Northwest
Michigan Tech (5-3, 2-0 GLIAC) vs Parkside (2-4, 1-1 GLIAC) and Purdue Northwest (2-5, 0-2 GLIAC)
Radio: WKMJ (Mitch Lake)
Video Stream: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/mtu/
Audio Stream: Pasty.net
Live Stats: http://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/wbkb/2018-19/schedule

WEEK FOUR IN REVIEW
Michigan Tech snapped a three game losing streak with a pair of wins at Saginaw Valley State and Northwood to open the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference schedule. The Huskies topped the Cardinals 68-57 Thursday night after trailing 13-9 through the first 10 minutes. Tech combined to outscore the Cardinals in the second and third periods by 15 points to turn the tide of the contest. Four Tech players had 13 or more points in Thursday night's win, led by sophomore Cassidy Trotter and Ellie Mackay with season and career highs of 15 points apiece. On Saturday afternoon, the Huskies prevailed at Northwood 78-68 to wrap up the weekend. The Huskies constructed a 15-point lead about midway through the third quarter only to find themselves trailing the Timberwolves by four points with 4:31 to play. The Huskies collected themselves and outscored Northwood 19-5 down the stretch to secure the win. Junior Abbie Botz powered the Huskies with a career high 21 points, nine rebounds, and six assists.

KELLIHER GLIAC NORTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK 
Senior Elizabeth Kelliher was selected as the GLIAC North Division Player of the Week. Kelliher, a forward from Waukesha, Wisconsin, averaged 14 points and nine rebounds, had three assists, and four blocked shots combined in Tech's two victories this past week. Kelliher recorded her first double-double of the season in the 68-57 win at Saginaw Valley State with 13 points and 12 rebounds. She followed that up with 15 points and six rebounds in a 78-68 triumph at Northwood Saturday. Kelliher posted nine of her points during a key stretch of the fourth quarter against the Timberwolves. Kelliher also knocked down 60 percent of her total shots this past week. In addition to her scoring and rebounding numbers, Kelliher turned in a pair of blocked shots in each game to break the Michigan Tech career record for total blocks. Kelliher is also the single game (9) and single season (76) school record holder for blocks. Kelliher is averaging 10.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, and is fourth in the GLIAC with 1.9 blocks per game.

MACKAY AND ZENNER STEP IN
Freshmen Ellie Mackay and Sloane Zenner have logged key minutes for Michigan Tech and played integral roles in both GLIAC wins last week. Mackay averaged 16.5 points and four rebounds per game against the Cardinals and Timberwolves in the conference openers. Mackay poured in 15 points in the win at Saginaw Valley State and followed it up with a season and career high 18 points at Northwood Saturday. Mackay hit some key shots in both contests, especially in the fourth quarter of the Northwood win. Mackay was 13 of 20 on shots from the field (65%) and went 5 of 9 from behind the arc (55.6%) in the two contests. Mackay has played in all eight games with four starts this year. She is averaging 10.1 points per game and has been successful on 55.6 percent of her total field goals and 54.8 percent of her three-point attempts.

Zenner had a season and career high nine points in Saturday's win at Northwood, connecting on key triple in the fourth quarter scoring run . On the defensive end, she contributed three steals and three rebounds to help power the Huskies to the victory. Zenner played 11 minutes Thursday at Saginaw Valley State where she dished out three assists and hauled down one defensive rebound. Zenner has appeared in seven games so far in 2018-19, averaging 2.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game.

GLIAC STATISTICAL RANKINGS
The Huskies are eight games into the season and they rank near the top in multiple GLIAC statistical categories. The Huskies are second in the conference in assists per game (16.0), fifth in opponents field goal percentage (39.9%), and third in opponents three-point percentage (28.8%). The Huskies are fourth in points allowed per game (62.8), fourth in field goals made per game (27.1), and third in field goal percentage (44.7%) and blocks per game (3.8). Kelliher checks in at fourth in the rankings in field goal percentage (58.6%) while Mackay is fourth in three-point shooting percentage (54.8%). Trotter is sixth in the GLIAC in assists per game (3.4) and Welsh is tied for eighth in assists per game (3.1). Kelliher is fourth in blocks per game (1.9).

SERIES VS PARKSIDE AND PURDUE NORTHWEST
Michigan Tech is 18-2 all-time against Parkside coming into Thursday's matchup. The two teams have not played since November 24, 2012, when the Huskies prevailed on the road 66-53. Sam Hoyt, now the head coach, led the Huskies that day with 23 points and four assists. The Huskies battled Purdue Northwest last year for the first time in program history, winning both meetings. Tech prevailed 86-40 on the road and 64-38 in Houghton.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
The Parkside Rangers are 2-4 overall and 1-1 in the GLIAC entering Thursday night's game against Tech. The Rangers opened the year with a 61-57 win at Malone before losing four straight games, including a 67-50 setback in their GLIAC opener last Thursday against Grand Valley State. Parkside registered a win against Davenport 69-64 this past Saturday to break the losing streak. Carolina Rahkonen powers the Rangers' offense with a 13.2 points per game scoring average. Ali Bettencourt statistically is the top rebounder on the club at 7.0 rpg, but hasn't appeared in the previous three games. As a team, Parkside is averaging 66.3 points per game, but is surrendering 73.2 points per night to opposing offenses. The Rangers take the third most shot attempts of any team in the GLIAC at just under 67 per outing.

Purdue Northwest is 2-5 overall and still searching for win number on in the GLIAC this season. The Pride's two wins this year are both against Illinois Springfield 71-70 and 72-61. The Pride fell in both of their conference games last week, dropping a 67-62 decision at home to Davenport Thursday before falling to Grand Valley State Saturday 75-49. The Pride are third in the GLIAC in offensive rebounds at 12.9 per game and are fourth overall in rebounding at 40.9 boards per contest. Shae Rhonehouse leads the team in scoring at 12.1 points per game while Molly DeValkenaere hauls down eight rebounds per night. Purdue Northwest is scoring 62.6 points each time out, but giving up 75.4 points per contest to opponents going into Thursday's game at Northern Michigan. 

COACH HOYT
Sam Hoyt was named as the ninth head coach of the Michigan Tech women's basketball program, Director of Athletics Suzanne Sanregret announced Tuesday (May 29). Hoyt returns to Tech from the University of Sioux Falls where she served as an assistant coach. Hoyt was a standout player for the Huskies, helping lead the program to the 2011 NCAA Division II National Championship game as well as garnering multiple individual awards, including All-American Honorable Mention honors. Hoyt brings a wealth of coaching experience to Tech from both the NCAA Division I and II levels. In Hoyt's most recent stop at the University of Sioux Falls, she was involved in all facets of the program. She played an integral role in player development, served as the recruiting coordinator, created scouting reports, ran summer camps, and had responsibilities for film breakdown. Hoyt is Michigan Tech's seventh all-time leading scorer, amassing 1,434 career points during her four-year career which spanned 124 games. Hoyt owns the second highest career free throw percentage in program history at 84.8 percent and is tied for the second highest single season free throw percentage at 89.5 percent. The Huskies boasted an overall record of 103-22 during her career as a player.

NEXT UP
The Huskies host Lewis next Saturday December 15th for a non-conference game at the SDC. The Flyers are 6-1 going into a non-conference contest Saturday at home against Central State.