BIG RAPIDS, Mich. -- Jenna Bartels gave Michigan Tech a late
second-half lead with back-to-back three-pointers, then iced the
win at the free throw line in a 69-65 triumph at Ferris State
tonight. The senior registered 16 points after halftime en route to
tying her career high with 19.
With the win, Tech moved ahead of Ferris in the Great Lakes
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference North Division standings. The
Huskies improved to 16-7 overall and 10-5 in league play, while the
Bulldogs fell to 15-7 overall and 9-5 in the GLIAC.
"I'm very proud of our team," said head coach John Barnes. "They
showed a lot of grit to come back from that second half deficit,
and Jenna turned in a great performance that we really needed."
The visiting Huskies led by as many as eight points (41-33) in the
second half -- that coming at the 11:20 mark. Ferris State then put
together a 22-5 run over the next five minutes for a nine-point
lead. Tech erased that deficit in short order as it scored the next
eight points.
With her team trailing by a 57-54 count under three minutes,
Bartels knocked down her fourth triple of the game to tie the
score. The Bulldogs committed a turnover, then Bartels drained
another long-range three to put Tech on top for good.
After a defensive stop, Danae Danen swished a pair of free throws
for a five-point margin. Alicia Schneider then tipped a Ferris
missed shot to teammate Sarah Stream, where she was intentionally
fouled with 52 seconds to play. Stream split two free throws, then
Schneider split a pair of foul shots to expand the margin to
seven.
The Bulldogs managed to score five points in the next 17 seconds to
make it a two point game before Danen went one-of-two at the line.
With a chance to tie the game with a three, FSU's Kristin Reinhart
committed a turnover. Bartels was then fouled, and she made two
free throws for a five-point lead. Reinhart drained a three-pointer
with six seconds left before Bartels finally iced the game with two
more free throws.
Tech shot 45 percent from the field including an identical 45
percent from behind the arc. FSU was limited to 38 percent from the
floor. The Huskies converted 14-of-20 free throws -- all in the
second half.
Bartels had seven rebounds, four steals, three blocks and two
assists to go with her 19 points. Danen added 15 points and seven
rebounds. Schneider (13) and Stream (11) also reached double
figures in points. Katie Wysocky led all rebounders with 10.
In the first half, Ferris State grabbed a 16-11 advantage at the
10-minute mark before MTU scored the next 10 points unanswered.
Four different players had baskets during the run including threes
from Katie Zimmerman and Bartels. Reinhart pulled FSU within two
points with 1:17 to to in the half, but Stream answered immediately
with a three-pointer off a nice feed from Nichole Brewer. Tech led,
28-23, at the intermission.
Michigan Tech will play its final regular season road game Saturday
(Feb. 10) at Lake Superior State. Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m.
