HOUGHTON, Mich. — Michigan Tech gained the sweep of Northwood in women's basketball with a 68-60 win tonight at the SDC Gym. The 14th-ranked Huskies held the Timberwolves to 23 second-half points to improve to 7-1 overall and 4-0 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Tech defeated Northwood 80-68 the first meeting between the teams on Dec. 6.

Similar to the first game between the schools this season, Northwood led at halftime ater a tight first half. Lucy Dernovsek banged home back-to-back 3-pointers to put Tech on top midway through the half. The Timberwolves used the same formula — two straight treys by Rachel Church — to regain the advantage with 3:34 to go. The visitors went into the intermission with a 37-31 edge.

Tech switched to zone defense to open half number two, and it paid off. The Black and Gold outscored Northwood 23-5 to open the frame and grab a 54-42 advantage with 12:10 to play. That was the largest margin of the game, however, as NU kept chipping at the deficit.

The gap was just 61-57 with 2:52 to play, but the Huskies got defensive stops on three straight possessions then made 7-of-10 free throws down the stretch to preserve the win.

"I wasn't happy with giving up 37 points in the first half," said head coach John Barnes. "We played much better on the defensive end in the second half, and that won us the game."

Katie Wysocky posted a double-double with a game-high 19 points and 10 rebounds. She also tallied four assists and held NU's top scorer Megan Starnes to just 10 points.

Sarah Stream added 14 points and four assists while Katie Zimmerman knocked down four triples for a dozen points.

Neither team shot better than 40 percent. The Huskies got the win with four fewer turnovers and six more made free throws.

Michigan Tech will continue its home stand with a rematch vs. Wayne State Saturday (Dec. 20). Tipoff at the SDC Gym is slated for 1 p.m.