Preview: Huskies ignite rivalry – Michigan Tech Athletics

Houghton, Mich – Michigan Tech returned to action this week after reeling off a four-game winning streak before the holiday break against No. 2 Ashland and Walsh, both members of the Greater Midwest Athletic Conference.

The Huskies (10-2, 3-1) are tied for second in the GLIAC standings, with the undefeated Eagles (12-0, 6-0). Ashland is MTU’s second nationally ranked opponent this summer. Ashland, a former GLIAC member, ended the Huskies’ memorable 2020-21 season in the NCAA Division II Midwest Region Semifinals in Springfield, Illinois, after Michigan Tech defeated the Eagles two weeks ago in the conference championship.

Ashland’s biggest win of 2022-23 came on Nov. 23 at the Oasis Hotel and Convention Center in the Thanksgiving Classic, 68-67 in overtime against No. 7 Drury. Meanwhile, Tech upset No. 19 Ferris State 67-52 on Dec. 11 at SDC Gymnasium. Despite a strong start to the season with five returning starters, the Huskies did not earn national poll recognition. This weekend could provide an opportunity to change that.

Fans can adjust their radio dial in Keweenaw to tune in to 93.5 FM WKMJ to hear both games or stream online to pasty.net.

The past tense

• Michigan Tech scored in a comfortable 76-44 win over Finlandia University on Saturday, December 17th at SDC Gymnasium.
• The Huskies are undefeated at home (7-0) after facing the Lions in a regular season game for the second time in 10 years.
• Three players reached double figures for Tech: Eli Mackay and Sloane Zenner with 14 points each and Alex Rohndorff with 11 points.
• Zenner helped the Huskies to a 28-7 first quarter start from the three-point arc and finished 4-for-6 on the day from downtown.

A match against Ashland

• Ashland won 74-65 in the 2020-21 Midwest Region semifinals, marking the last meeting between the two former rivals. The game was a bitter disappointment for a veteran-laden Huskies team that finished the year 20-2 overall.
• Forward Annie Roshack (North Canton, Ohio) now leads the Eagles with a game-high 26 points. Roshack is averaging a team-high 13.7 points per game. Her minor accolades include being named WCA Honorable Mention All-America and First Team All-Midwest Region.
• Current Huskies Alex Rohndorff and Eli Mackay both put up double figures against Ashland two seasons ago, but Tech shot just 34.9 percent overall and Roshack hit late free throws. Michigan Tech was the program’s 20th No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Scouting Eagles

• Ashland remained No. 2 behind Grand Valley State in the Dec. 20 Division II WBCA National Coaches Poll. The Eagles are ranked No. 5 in the nation in the preseason.
• Carrie Pickens is in her fifth season leading Ashland (105-15).
• The Eagles won both the Greater Midwest regular season and tournament championships and finished the 2021-22 season 29-3 overall and 21-1 in the Greater Midwest Athletic Conference.
• The Eagles played host to the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional, finishing the season ranked 9th in the nation and ranked as high as 2nd in the campaign.
• Over the past 11 seasons, Ashland is 322-39 (.892) with two NCAA Division II national championships, two national runner-up finishes, two undefeated seasons, a D-II-record 73-game winning streak, six 30-win seasons, 10 NCAA postseason appearances. feats, seven conference regular season championships, eight conference tournament titles, and a 175-13 (.931) mark at home.
• The Eagles return three 2021-22 starters — All-American senior forward Annie Roshack (averaged 17.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.0 blocks per game, and shot 55.1 percent from the field, 33.0 percent from 3-point range, and 76.7 percent from the field). (from the free throw line)
• Second-team all-conference fifth-year guard Hallie Heidemann (averaged 12.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 48.6 percent from the field, 42.6 percent from 3-point range and 86.8 percent from the free-throw line).
• Second-team all-league junior guard Macy Spielman (averaged 12.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game, and shot a team-high 57.0 percent from the field, as well as 37.7 percent from 3-point range and a team-best 87.0 percent from free throws).

CAVALIERS SCOUT

• Under new coach Mark Schwitzgable, the Cavaliers were seeded No. 3 to begin the season.
• Walsh fell in the GMAC championship game last season.
• Walsh missed out on Sha Carter as well as Macy’s Sales Player of the Year, a five-time first-team selection. Morgan McMillen returns for Walsh, the league’s best three-point shooter, as well as second-team all-conference selection Lexie Scarton. McMillen made 102 triples on the year for a .483 percentage. Scarton ranks fourth in the Greater Midwest in assist/turnover ratio as well as assists per game at 3.7.
• Michigan Tech’s last game against Walsh was on December 3, 2016 when Walsh beat Houghton 68-65.
• The Cavs are 0-3 against GLIAC opponents this season, falling 89-64 last time in North Canton against Ferris State on Dec. 19.
• Thursday night’s game against Deauville College has been postponed.

Mackay Climbs all the time charts

• Senior guard Eli Mackay (Novi, Michigan) debuted as GLIAC Freshman of the Year in 2018-19, earned GLIAC Player of the Year in 2020-21 and was first-team All-GLIAC again last season.
• She currently ranks third on Michigan Tech’s all-time career scoring list (1,596), behind only Jenny Postlewhite (1,856) and Katie Wysocki (1,943).
• After setting the single-season record for free throw percentage last year, McKay is on pace to surpass the career best free throw percentage (.853) set in 1987.
• McKay ranks 11th all-time in games played (120). Angela Guisfredi hit a record 130 games between 2007-11.
• In 12 starts this year, Mackay is averaging 14.0 points and a team-high 27.3 minutes per game.

GLIAC Player of the Week

• Ferris State senior guard Mallory McCartney led the Bulldogs to an 89-64 road win over Walsh on Monday, finishing with a team-high 20 points, 10 rebounds, eight rebounds and three steals in a near triple-double performance.
• McCartney scored her 1,000th career point in the win, which also represented FSU head coach Kurt Westendorp’s 100th career coaching victory.
• Her game gave the Bulldogs an 8-2 lead heading into the holiday break. In the contest, she shot 47% from the floor and made six of 12 (50%) three-point attempts.

Husky league leaders

D2SIDA Midwest Regional Rankings (6 weeks)

1. Ashland (3) [12-0]

2. Grand Valley State (2) [11-0]

3. Drury [11-1]

4. Michigan Tech [10-2]

5. Ferris State [8-2]

6. Kentucky Wesleyan [7-3]

7. Maryville [8-3]

8. Truman State [8-5]

9. Wayne State [7-3]

10. Malone [8-4]

RV: Saginaw Valley Province, Northern Michigan