HOUGHTON, Mich. - No. 12 Michigan Tech defeated No. 9 Grand Valley State 60-55 today in a battle of nationally-ranked women's basketball teams. The Huskies knocked down 11-of-21 3-pointers and held the Lakers to their lowest point total of the season in moving to 8-1 overall and 5-0 in GLIAC play.

Tech looked as though it might run away with the game after Lindsey Lindstrom's 3-pointer with 7:51 to play made the score 51-41. The Lakers (9-1, 5-1 GLIAC) didn't go away quietly. They scored seven straight points to close within three under five minutes to play.

Sam Hoyt broke a nearly-five-minute drought by hitting a step-back 3-pointer at the end of the shot clock. Then with 1:49 remaining, Lisa Staehlin drained two free throws to grow the lead to 56-50.

Angela Guisfredi missed the front end of a one-and-one that could've made it a three-possession game at the 1:19 mark. Instead, the Lakers knocked down a 3-pointer on a broken play with 55 seconds remaining to pull within 56-53.

Lucy Dernovsek provided the play of the game, spinning twice while driving the right baseline for a layup with 24 seconds left. That made the score 58-53. The Lakers scored a layup with 2.6 seconds left, then fouled Guisfredi. She made both free throws to ice the game and account for the final margin of five.

"We're lucky to get out of here with a win after giving up 17 offensive rebounds and missing too many free throws," said head coach Kim Cameron. "We talked about carrying over our defensive performance from last night, and I think we did that.

"Getting this win is an awesome way to go into the break."

Tech played a sharp first 18 minutes of the game and had an eight-point lead. GVSU responded with six straight points including a layup at the buzzer to close within 29-27 at the half.

Hoyt caught fire in the second half, pouring in 16 of her game-high 19 points in the final 20 minutes. She had eight straight Tech points midway through the half to help the hosts keep a comfortable lead. The sophomore point guard also had the assist on Lindstrom's 3-pointer that made it a 10-point game.

Guisfredi posted a career-high 15 points on the day without missing any of her five field goal attempts. Lindstrom finished with eight points and nine rebounds.

GVSU was paced by Briauna Taylor's 18 points. The Lakers posted a 43-26 rebounding advantage. They had 17 offensive rebounds but only nine second chance points.

One night after committing 17 turnovers, the Huskies coughed up the ball just nine times against strong defensive pressure. Grand Valley had 14 turnovers. Tech was an uncharacteristic 56 percent (9-of-16) from the foul line.

Michigan Tech has now beaten Grand Valley State nine straight times dating back to the 2006-07 season.

The Huskies will have 10 days off before traveling to play non-conference foe Southern Indiana on Dec. 30.