Women’s Basketball Downed by Michigan Tech on the Road

HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Lake Superior State women’s basketball team fell to the Michigan Tech Huskies by a final score of 69-49 on Saturday, Jan. 23 in the SDC Gymnasium in Houghton, Mich. in the second game of a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) series.

First Half: 

Following the first twenty minutes of play, the Lakers held a three point lead over the Huskies (29-26) after a close first half. 

In the first quarter, the Lakers held a 4-2 lead over the Huskies with just over three minutes played as Mattson Rayman and Jaden Wilder each scored on a jump shot. Wilder would follow with a perfect pair of free throws to give the Lakers a 6-5 lead.

In her second collegiate game, Jozie Bontrager made a three point jump shot and a free throw to build the Lakers lead to three points in the late stages of the first quarter (10-7). The first quarter would close with each team registering 13 points. 

Mackenzie Bray, who led the Lakers in points in the series opener against the Huskies, netted consecutive three pointers to give the Lakers a six points lead early in the second quarter (21-15).

When Mattison Rayman made a pair of free throws with just under four minutes remaining in the half, the Lakers lead was extended to seven points over the Huskies (25-18). In the final three minutes, the Lakers were able to hold onto the lead (29-26) but the Huskies finished the second quarter strong to cut their deficit in the final minutes of the first half. 

Second Half: 

On the first scoring play of the second half, the Huskies would tie the game at 29 with a basket from behind the three point line. Michigan Tech would add a second three pointer in the next minute to go up on the Lakers, 32-29, but freshman guard Jaden Wilder would respond with a three pointer of her own to tie the game. 

With 6:40 left in the third quarter, Bray made both her free throw attempts to keep the Lakers within two points of the Huskies (36-34). But, the Husky offense would then take over the game, scoring nine straight points to build a double-digit lead over the Lakers. In the closing minutes of the third quarter, the Lakers would work to cut down Michigan Tech’s lead and would enter the fourth quarter down by seven points (49-41). 

In the final ten minutes of the game, the Lakers were unable to overcome the lead that the Huskies built in the third quarter. The Husky offense would outscore the Lakers in the fourth quarter, 20-8. The game would end in a final score of 69-49, in favor of the home team. 

Breaking Down the Game:

For the second straight game, Bray led the way for the Lakers as she scored a team-leading 12 points against the Huskies.  Freshman Jaden Wilder posted a double-digit point total for the first time in her collegiate career as she finished the game with 11 points. Senior guard Taylor Bryant led the Lakers in rebounds with five and assists with three in the game. 

The Lakers finished the game with a 29.6 shooting percentage, going 16-for-54 against Michigan Tech. On the other end of the floor, the Huskies went 22-for-54 in the game to total a 40.7 shooting percentage. Lake Superior was outrebounded by Michigan Tech, 46-28, in the game.

What’s Next: 

The Lakers will return home for a single game against the Ferris State Bulldogs on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 6:00 p.m. in the Bud Cooper Gymnasium in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.