Tech women take down Concordia-St. Paul

HOUGHTON, Mich. — Michigan Tech led wire-to-wire in a 65-54 victory over No. 10-ranked Concordia-St. Paul in a non-conference women’s basketball game tonight at the SDC Gym. The Huskies held the Golden Bears to 21 second-half points to turn a three-point halftime lead into an 11-point victory.

“We knew going into this game that defense was going to need to win this game for us,” said Tech coach Kim Cameron. “That’s exactly what happened. Holding them to 21 in the second half was the difference.

“We were aggressive from the start. We attacked the rim and moved the ball.”

Tech got big performances from Danielle Blake and Jillian Ritchie in the win. Blake notched 23 points, nine rebounds, three blocks and two steals while Ritchie posted her first double-double of the year with 11 points and 13 rebounds.

The hosts jumped out to a 7-0 lead and had the margin up to 12 midway through the first half. Concordia chipped away at their deficit at the end of the half with the help of an 11-4 run. The score at the break was 36-33.

Michigan Tech opened the second half with back-to-back baskets from Blake to push margin to seven. It was still a five-point game with 4:07 to play when Ritchie scored on a post-up to put the score at 61-54.

The Huskies defense held CU without another point the rest of the game.

Concordia shot just 29 percent in the second half and 38 percent for the game. Tech hit on 42 percent of its field goals despite shooting an uncharacteristic 2-of-13 from 3-point range.

Tech out-rebounded its opponent 25-14 in the second half and committed just nine turnovers in the contest.

Brenna Heise joined Blake and Ritchie in double figures. She scored 15 points. Morgan Anderson added eight points, six rebounds and four assists.

Ameshia Kearney led the Golden Bears with 15 points. Anika Whiting, the two-time Northern Sun Conference Player of the Year, was held to 14 points on 6-of-15 shooting.

The Huskies are 2-0 to start the season, while the Concordia, a 2014 NCAA Elite Eight participant, is 1-2.

Michigan Tech will stay home this week and play Minnesota State next Saturday (Nov. 29) at 2 p.m.

(Information Courtesy of MTU Athletics)