Perttu leads Lady Huskies over NMU
Courtesy of MTU Athletics
HOUGHTON, Mich. – Mackenzie Perttu poured in a career-high 30 points to carry the Michigan Tech women’s basketball team to a 71-65 win over Northern Michigan on Monday (Feb. 3). The Huskies swept the three-game weekend at the SDC Gym against North Division opponents to improve to 15-4 overall and 13-2 in the GLIAC.
Knotted up at 60 with 4:40 to go, Emily Harrison checked into the game and made back-to-back buckets to give the Huskies their final lead.
Tech didn’t make a field goal in the final 3:53 but made eight free throws, including six off Perttu’s fingertips. The defense held NMU to only one made field goal on six attempts in the final 2:30.
“It’s a war out there,” Tech coach Kim Cameron said. “I knew it going in, and it was more so than I thought. It was competitive on every single possession, and it was so important to get the big win at home.”
Perttu made 6-of-13 from the field an 16-of-18 from the free throw line to net the second 30-point game of the season for the Huskies. Danielle Blake had 32 at Ashland. Perttu added five rebounds in 38 minutes of action.
Blake recorded her third 20-point game, finishing with 21, on 8-for-18 shooting. She also added four blocks and four rebounds, sitting out only a few seconds.
NMU (12-7, 9-6 GLIAC) held a 28-27 halftime lead after seven ties and seven lead changes. The ‘Cats jumped out to an early 9-4 lead but jumpers from Blake, Harrison and a 3-pointer from Paige Albi gave Tech its first lead with 6:13 left before half.
Tied at 48, the Huskies went on a 10-2 run to take its largest lead of the game at eight (58-50) with 8:28 remaining. Blake had seven points in the run, including an old-fashioned three-point play.
The two teams traded baskets before NMU scored eight straight to tie it at 60.
Tech shot 41.8 percent (23-for-55) from the field and only 4-for-14 (28.6 percent) from three. The home team converted on 21-of-25 (84 percent) free throw attempts.
Albi scored nine points for the Huskies while Harrison finished with eight, for the second game in a row. Kerry Gardner also entered the scoring column with a 3-pointer and Jillian Ritchie rabbed a team-high six rebounds, playing 38 minutes.
“Emily was awesome tonight,” added Cameron. “She was focused and ready for her opportunity. She did something good every time she went to the basket. I’m proud of the way she played.”
Northern shot 47.3 percent (26-for-55) from the field and 2-for-14 from deep. The Wildcats were led by Alyssa Colla with 22 points. Alyson Matkovich added 10 points while Annie Rubendunst pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds. The visitors held a 36-28 rebounding advantage.
Tech continues play this week on Thursday (Feb. 6) at Ferris State. The Huskies finish the road trip at Grand Valley State on Saturday (Feb. 8).