Michigan Tech ahead Mia Kozlowska makes an attempt a layup throughout a recreation in opposition to Grand Valley State Saturday on the SDC Gym in Houghton. (David Archabeau/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — Shooting simply 18.2% within the first quarter was not what the Michigan Tech Huskies ladies’s basketball crew hoped to do Saturday afternoon on the SDC Gym in opposition to the No. 2 Grand Valley State Lakers. From there, the shot higher, however couldn’t overcome a five-point deficit within the second half as they finally fell to the Lakers, 57-46.

With the loss on Senior Day, the Huskies fell to 15-11 total and 11-7 in GLIAC play.

“I thought we competed really hard,” mentioned Huskies coach Sam Clayton. “Obviously, (we) didn’t shoot it great. I think if we, you know, hit a few more shots, just a totally different game. But, I thought, in general, especially after the first quarter, we executed our offense better and got better looks.”

When the Huskies confronted the Lakers earlier this season, they misplaced 74-30, so the 11-point loss Saturday confirmed plenty of progress for the Huskies total. Clayton felt that the Huskies discovered a option to take care of how powerful the Lakers may be defensively.

“They’re a really good defensive team, a really good defensive team,” she mentioned. “So, credit to them, they do make it tough.”

An enormous issue for the Huskies within the contest was turnovers. Even because the Lakers struggled to attain within the first half, the Huskies regularly gave them alternatives by giving the ball away.

“We just gave up the ball too many times in the first half,” Clayton mentioned. “We had 16 turnovers in the first half and then shored it up, only had seven in the second half. It was just those long passes, whether it be the lob or the skip, they’re just too athletic. They’re too athletic. So, I thought we learned from it and adjusted in the second half, and took care of it a little bit better.”

Clayton preferred that her crew discovered a option to outscore the Lakers over the ultimate 10 minutes, 16-14. She felt that the Huskies confirmed they could possibly be efficient with the press when obligatory.

“I loved the fight the fourth quarter there,” she mentioned. “We did outscore them in the fourth quarter. We did some press, some passing lane, some trapping, and our girls did, they fought. They wanted it bad, obviously, for our seniors playing at home here, but they competed and we showed that we can compete with one of the best teams in the nation, if not the best team in the nation.”

Junior guard Isabella Lenz led the way in which with 14 factors for the Huskies, however extra spectacular was the ten factors that fifth-year ahead Sara Dax had in her return to the lineup from damage.

“To have Sara back is a huge help,” Clayton mentioned. “I mean, as a leader on and off the floor, just for her to be able to step in and just have that presence, that calming presence of a fifth-year senior, where she’s going to make good decisions, she’s going to hit those shots, we can post her up, she can hit the three. So, it was great to have her back. I think she’ll get better and better as she gets to play more.”

With Dax again within the lineup, the Huskies had been additionally in a position to experiment with their flooring setup by enjoying each Dax and junior ahead Emma Anderson on the similar time.

“I do like that lineup just because they both can post up and both really shoot the three well,” mentioned Clayton. “Like I said, no matter who matches up on them, I feel like you have an advantage offensively one way or another. So, yeah, we’re trying that out. We like it. They play well together, so it’s good.”

UP NEXT

With the loss, the Huskies end because the fourth seed within the GLIAC Tournament. They will host WIsconsin-Parkside Wednesday at 6 p.m. on the SDC Gym.