Fewest points allowed in a game in 14 years
WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. – The Michigan Tech women’s basketball team allowed the fewest points by an opponent since Nov. 16, 2011, defeating GLVC affiliate Upper Iowa 70-30 on Saturday night to wrap the D2 Midwest Region Tip-Off in the Wisconsin Dells.
Ironically, the last time the Huskies allowed fewer points, head coach Sam Clayton was a sophomore on the team, scoring six points in the 62-26 win over Finlandia at the Wood Gym.
Michigan Tech completes the opening weekend 2-0 as Upper Iowa drops to 0-2.
“I thought it was another great defensive effort by our team. I’m happy to come away with 2 big in region wins,” said Clayton. “We have a lot to learn from both games but a lot to build upon.”
Kaitlyn Maxwell scored her most points as a Husky, finishing with 14 points (5-of-6), including 10 fourth-quarter points as Janie Tomranen led all scorers with 16 points on seven-of-nine shooting to go with six boards. Sophomore Kloe Zentkowski garnered a career-high 11 boards, adding four points as 10 total Huskies scored in the game.
Sophomore Kendall Standfest also reached double-figure scoring with 11 points and seven rebounds.
The Huskies rattled off a 10-0 run after opening the game trailing 5-0. Standfest accounted for six of the MTU’s points, including an old-fashioned three-point play following an offensive board while recording a block before the media timeout with 3:12 in the quarter.
The Huskies’ defense was lethal in the middle portion of the period before the Peacocks found a five-point spurt to conclude the first quarter, trailing Michigan Tech 13-10.
Maxwell provided a boost off the bench in the second quarter with back-to-back baskets to extend the Black & Gold’s lead to nine at 21-12, extending the Huskies’ run to 23-4 dating back to the first quarter.
Tormanen quietly reached a game-high eight points with under 15 minutes of game time, shooting four-of-five from the field to go with four boards.
Standfest joined Tormanen as the game-leaders with eight points apiece, the Peacocks broke the long scoring drought with an and-one by Sydnee Nelson to make it 27-12. The Huskies’ defense was too much for Upper Iowa to handle as the Peacocks shot just 23 percent from the field through two quarters (6-of-25).
By the under-five media timeout of the third quarter, the Huskies had doubled up the Peacocks in points (38-19) after opening the period shooting 75 percent from the floor (six-of-eight) while holding a 6-1 advantage in rebounds. Tormanen accounted for eight of Michigan Tech’s 23 points in the period while holding Upper Iowa to another 15.4 percent shooting quarter heading into the fourth quarter ahead 48-21.
Maxwell netted ten of the Huskies’ 22 points in the fourth quarter. Michigan Tech’s largest lead came with 3:23 to play (67-24) following two free-throws by Maja Kozlowska.
Michigan Tech won the rebounding battle 44-22, with 10 offensive boards, also seeing 33 bench points and 36 points in the paint.
The Huskies shot 42.6 percent from the field while holding the opponent to 20.4 percent and just 3-of-23 from deep.
Nelson led the Peacocks with seven points while Bryar Duwe had a team-leading six rebounds.
Up Next
The Huskies will have their home-opener next week welcoming Minnesota Duluth on Thursday before facing St. Cloud State Friday. Both games are slated for 5:30 p.m.
