ERIE, Pa. — Mercyhurst came out gunning and led by as many as 17 points in the first half, but the Michigan Tech women's basketball team overcame the slow start and prevailed, 71-59. The win was the Huskies third straight and first in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play as both teams opened their league schedules.

Katie Wysocky (23 points) and Catherine Rottier (16 points, six assists) were the steadying influences for Michigan Tech, which found itself trailing, 29-12, with 8:40 to play in the first half. Mercyhurst scorched the nets with 7-of-10 shooting from 3-point range to open the game. Tech chipped away at the margin with a 19-2 run capped by five straight points from Wysocky to tie the contest at 31. MC scored a bucket right before halftime to lead, 33-31, at the intermission.

The game was close for the first 18 minutes of the second half until Rottier scored on a drive and layup then added two free throws. After a Laker basket at the 1:06 mark, Rottier added two more free throws with 57 seconds left.

Tech's defense did not allow another point the rest of the way while Rottier, Katie Zimmerman and Lena Widman combined to go 7-of-8 at the foul stripe for the final margin of 12.

"I'm really proud of the team that they didn't panic early," said head coach John Barnes. "We defended their top players really well, and we did a great job at the free throw line."

Michigan Tech drained 16-of-18 attempts at the charity stripe and held a 37-26 rebounding margin in the contest.

Wysocky scored her 23 points with 10-of-15 field goal shooting. She added six rebounds and three steals in 36 minutes of action. Rottier was 4-of-10 from the field and 8-of-9 at the foul line. She also had five rebounds and six assists with no turnovers. Widman led the team with eight rebounds to go with two points. Seven other Huskies had points in the game.

Michigan Tech (3-2, 1-0 GLIAC) will return to action Saturday (Dec. 1) with another league game vs. Gannon. Tipoff time is slated for 1 p.m.

Notes: Wysocky's 23 points was one point short of her career high of 24 ... Tech outscored Mercyhurst, 34-22, in the paint and 17-1 on second chance points.