Stream Scores 22, Including 19 in Second Half
ALLENDALE, Mich. -- Sarah Stream scored 19 second-half points to lift Michigan Tech to a 63-57 upset victory at #12 Grand Valley State in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference women's basketball tournament quarterfinal contest tonight. For the second time this season, the Huskies (19-8) defeated the Lakers at the GVSU Fieldhouse. They now advance to the GLIAC Tournament Semifinal for the first time since 2002.
Stream scored seven straight points during a 10-0 run in the second half that put the Huskies in front, 51-48, with five minutes to play. Tech held on to the three-point margin until the 1:12 mark, when Stream swished a jumpshot from the right baseline.
GVSU's Erika Ryskamp was fouled with 53 seconds left, but made only one of two free throws, keeping it a four-point game. Alicia Schneider missed the front end of a one-and-one at the :42 mark, but grabbed a rebound on a Laker miss just seven seconds later. Stream and senior Jenna Bartels then stepped to the foul line and iced the game with six straight makes.
"This is a huge win for us," said head coach John Barnes, who picked up his first career postseason victory. "I'm proud of our defensive effort in holding them to 57 on their floor. Alicia played a great game and Stream was outstanding in the second half as well."
Similar to the teams' game two weeks ago in Houghton, Grand Valley jumped out to an early lead. Schneider scored the Huskies' first nine points to keep them in the game. Katie Zimmerman's three-pointer at the 11:11 mark tied the game at 12.
Wysocky's seventh three-pointer of the season gave Tech its largest lead of the first half at 22-17. GVSU then ended the half on a 9-0 run for a 26-24 margin at the break.
The Lakers held the largest lead of the contest (41-33) with 14:28 to play. Stream then made the first of her 19 second-half points to help Tech make a 6-0 spurt to close within 41-39. Grand Valley had the margin back up to 48-41 with 7:24 to play before Stream notched seven consecutive points during the Huskies 10-0 run.
Stream finished with a season-high-tying 22 points. Schneider added 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Wysocky registered 12 points, six rebounds and four assists. Bartels, who entered the game only three triples short of the school's career three-point record, had just one three-pointer in the game. She did have a team-high eight rebounds.
Tech used a 51 percent mark from the field to overcome 20 turnovers. The Huskies held the Lakers to 37 percent from the floor and also held a 33-25 rebounding advantage.
"This win means a lot for our program," said Barnes. "Not only does it extend our season, but it will give our young players more of a taste of the postseason."
Michigan Tech will now travel to play at Gannon Friday (Mar. 2) in a GLIAC Tournament Semifinal. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m.
Notes: Michigan Tech is now 3-1 against nationally-ranked opponents this season ... MTU defeated GVSU, 64-59, in the earlier season matchup in Allendale ... Tech defeated Gannon, 75-61, at the SDC Gym earlier this season.
