Negaunee graduate hits six three-pointers
HOUGHTON, Mich. – For the second-straight game, sophomore guard Ella Mason registered a career-high 24 points helping the Michigan Tech women’s basketball team sweep the home-opening weekend with a 69-66 win over St. Cloud State at the SDC Gymnasium on Friday night.
Mason, a native of Negaunee, Michigan, recorded her second consecutive 20-point outing with a 24-point night hitting six of her 12 shots from 3-point range shooting 8-for-17 for the game adding five rebounds. Soraya Timms and Alyssa Wypych added 13 points, respectively, as Janie Tormanen recorded her first double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds, five on the offensive end.
Junior guard Dani Nuest scored four points, adding a team-high five assists and three steals in 31 minutes.
Michigan Tech remains perfect on the season at 4-0 as St. Cloud State drops to 2-2.
“I’m proud of our team being able to come away with a win tonight,” said Michigan Tech head coach Sam Clayton. “We can be better but for us to fight back when St. Cloud State hit shots says a lot about our character and who we’re going to be this year. Our team is so united and they believe in each other and it’s fun to be a part of.”
After an opening quarter that saw Michigan Tech force seven turnovers and outscored St. Cloud State 16-6, the road Huskies shot 50 percent from the field in the second quarter to get back into the contest despite the Black & Gold gaining its largest lead of the game (20-6) early in the quarter off a layup by Soraya Timms and two free-throws by Wypych.
SCSU utilized a flagrant foul called on Michigan Tech with 1:22 to go in the half translated into four points down the stretch by St. Cloud State’s Jada Eggebrecht to make it 28-27 heading into halftime. Alana Zanreke had nine of the Huskies’ 21 second quarter points.
Timms led the Huskies with nine points as Wypych added seven. Tormanen recorded four-points and a team-high five rebounds through the opening 20 minutes.
Michigan Tech jumped out to an 8-2 to start the third quarter forcing a St. Cloud State timeout (36-29) with 6:12 to go following a 3-pointer by Wypych.
Mason scored 14 of the Huskies points in the third quarter with four 3-pointers and a layup as Wypych added two triples herself to keep the home team ahead of schedule 50-49. Michigan Tech led most of the third quarter before five lead changes within the last 1:30.
“There’s nothing else we could ask for–being 4-0 and winning two games against two really good teams and staying undefeated,” said Mason.
SCSU hit four 3-pointers in the quarter to erase a 10-point lead by Michigan Tech at the 4:22 mark.
The Black & Gold shot over 60 percent from the field in the final quarter while holding the opposing Huskies to 35 percent from the field. Mason had a team-leading eight points in the quarter with two additional triples as Timms and Tormanen added four points, respectively. Timms accounted for the final four points for Mihcigan Tech with a layup and free-throws down the stretch to keep the home squad ahead 69-66.
SCSU had chances in the final 14 seconds, getting two offensive rebounds but could not find the game-tying shot.
Zarneke produced a team-leading 21 points as Kristi Kottke recorded a double-double with 10 points and a team-high 10 rebounds.
Up Next
The Huskies are back in action next week, traveling to Minnesota for two games. The Black & Gold face Concordia-St. Paul on Friday at 4:00 p.m. (EST) before traveling to Winona State Saturday slated for a 3:00 p.m. (EST) tipoff.
