HOUGHTON, Mich. - The Michigan Tech women's basketball team suffered its first loss of the season at the hands of arch rival Northern Michigan 53-47 today. The No. 1-ranked Huskies mustered only 31 percent field goal shooting including a 3-of-22 mark from 3-point range in falling to 10-1 overall and 5-1 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Much like the first game between the teams this season, the Huskies trailed at halftime. Tech made just six field goals the opening frame. The Wildcats (8-3 overall, 5-1 GLIAC) shot 35 percent for the half and were plus-five in rebounds before taking a 26-21 lead into the break.

NMU's margin grew to as many as 10 in the second half before Tech started chipping away. Danae Danen's three-point play with 8:56 to go trimmed the margin to 41-39. Later, it was a Katie Zimmerman 3-pointer that pulled the hosts within 43-42.That basket came with 7:42 to play and was the last field goal the Huskies made all day.

Tech had several chances over the next two minutes to take the lead but never could. Northern Michigan's Hillary Bowling, who entered the game with two 3-pointers all season, then knocked down her third of the game for a 46-42 advantage. NMU's Mariah Dunham made a layup to extend the gap to six before five straight Tech free throws cut it back to a one-point game.

Two straight defensive stops afforded the hosts two more opportunities to take their first lead since the first half. Sarah Stream misfired on a layup with 1:09 to play, and Tara Ferris was called for traveling with 23 seconds to go. The Huskies were forced to foul, and NMU made 5-of-6 free throws to secure the upset.

"We really struggled shooting, and we didn't make the plays down the stretch we normally make," said head coach John Barnes. "Give Northern credit. They recognized that we weren't making threes, and really packed their defense into the lane and made it hard for Danae and Katie (Wysocky) to get going.

"We held them to 53 points. Our offense had to be better."

Northern Michigan held a 44-37 advantage in rebounding and converted 13 Tech turnovers into 16 points. The Wildcats shot 30 percent from the field but only committed eight turnovers.

Wysocky posted 14 points and 14 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season. Danen, who had 10 points to go with eight rebounds, was the only other Husky in double figures in points.

Dunham (16) and Bowling (14) paced NMU.

Michigan Tech will head on the road for two GLIAC games next week. The Huskies play at Ashland Thursday (Jan. 7) and Tiffin Saturday (Jan. 9).

Notes: The crowd of 2,063 was the sixth-largest in school history … Tech had its 12-game winning streak over NMU snapped.