MARQUETTE, Mich. - Michigan Tech post players Lisa Staehlin and Lynn Giesler combined for 37 points to lead the Huskies to a 77-65 victory at Northern Michigan today in both teams' GLIAC women's basketball opener. The Huskies built an early double digit lead and maintained it to improve to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the GLIAC. NMU fell to 4-3 overall and 0-1 in league play with the loss.

"This is a big win for us," said Kim Cameron, who claimed victory in her first Tech-Northern game as head coach. "We said our game plan was to get the ball inside and handle their pressure, and I think we did pretty well with both."

NMU's Stephanie Stoeger scored the first bucket of the game, but that would be the Wildcat's only lead of the game. Staehlin answered with the first 3-point field goal of her career on the ensuing possession, and the Huskies never trailed again. Staehlin scored Tech's first seven points of the game to establish Tech's post presence.

Back-to-back 3-pointers by Kate Glodowski and Angela Guisfredi gave Tech a 29-19 lead with 6:10 to play in the half. Another trey by Lucy Dernovsek two minutes later pushed the lead to 13. Tech went into halftime with a 34-23 advantage.

The Black and Gold grew their lead to as many as 18 in the second half, but the Wildcats would not go away quietly. The hosts closed to within 13 three different times down the stretch, but the Huskies had the answer each time.

NMU made one last effort for a comeback by getting within 66-54 at the 3:40 mark. Staehlin immediately drained two free throws, and Tech players combined to swish eight straight foul shots to put the game out of reach.

Staehlin went 8-of-12 from the field and 6-of-6 at the foul line in beating her previous career high of 19. Giesler added 14 points, hitting 6-of-8 field goals.

Dernovsek posted a double-double with 11 points and a career-high-tying 10 rebounds. Hoyt also reached double figures with 10 points.

Tech, which struggled from the foul line in its loss at Concordia last Saturday (Nov. 27), made 22-of-27 free throws today for 82 percent.

NMU also fared well at the line, going 21-of-25 (84 percent). The Wildcats didn't shoot well from the field, though. They made just 36 percent from the floor including 2-of-15 (13 percent) 3-pointers.

The Huskies shot 50 percent from the field and held a 37-to-32 rebounding advantage.

Michigan Tech will stay on the road for its next two GLIAC games. The Huskies play at Ohio Dominican Thursday (Dec. 9) and Tiffin Saturday (Dec. 11).