David Archambeau/For the Gazette Michigan Tech guard Ella Mason stops as she tries to create space between herself and a Lake Superior State defender during a game Saturday at the SDC Gym in Houghton.

HOUGHTON — If there was a bigger moment this season for the Michigan Tech Huskies women’s basketball team to pick up a win than their victory over the Lake Superior State Lakers, coach Sam Clayton is not sure when that would have been. The Huskies snapped a three-game losing streak with a 75-62 win over the Lakers Saturday during Senior Day.

Clayton saw a lot she liked about the way the Huskies attacked the Lakers en route to their 10th win of the season. She actually felt that that offensive urgency the Huskies (10-14 overall, 7-9 GLIAC) showed was on display two nights earlier in a 70-67 loss to the Ferris State Bulldogs.

“I feel like, actually, the past two games, we were playing much better than the prior week as far as offensive flow, even defensive urgency and things,” she said. “So, things were coming together, but we just didn’t play the fourth quarter, didn’t finish the fourth quarter like we were capable of both games, whether it be some turnovers, honestly, missed shots, missed layups. We got some good looks both games where, if you want to win those games, well, specifically Thursday against a good team, you have to be able to finish those. So, (we are) trending in the right direction here at the end of the year.”

In a lot of ways, this season has felt like the kind of season where the Huskies have played well in most facets, but one issue or another rears its head at a crucial moment in the game. At the same time, one issue continues to plague the Huskies from the start of the season.

“Now it is putting the full 40 together,” said Clayton. “It’s frustrating, because we have been talking about it all year, being able to put together a full game. I don’t know if that’s fatigue in the fourth quarter, and we have to get more bodies in, or if it’s more of the mental locking in, finding a way. But, now’s the time. It’s now or never.”

The one player that Clayton does have to worry about for the bulk of the game is senior guard Isabella Lenz, who is averaging 14.3 points per game and shooting nearly 40% from beyond the arc. With 22 points against the Bulldogs and 15 against the Lakers, she is on a four-game streak of scoring in double figures.

“Super proud of Bella, and so, so happy for her to have a great weekend on that Senior Day weekend for her to be able to play well,” said Clayton. “She’s just put in so much time. She’s invested so much in this program on and off the floor. Academically, a 4.0, just leads us so well and has for years, but even more so this year in a tough year.

“We’re kind of struggling, but she’s really kept us together, and really continued to push us to be our best as she’s doing everything she possibly can on the floor, even when we’re not playing well.”

Clayton cannot say enough about how well Lenz is playing as she closes out her collegiate career..

“She’s getting every loose ball,” Clayton said. “She’s rebounding. She’s flying around. She’s just given everything she has, which is awesome to see as a senior, and awesome to see shots fall this weekend. Hopefully (that will) give her that confidence that kind of, I think, sparks the rest of the team and gets us going.”

Lenz’s spiritual successor appears to be freshman guard Kendall Standfest. Since a tough, four-game run where she did not score in double figures, she has hit that milestone in eight of her last 10 games. She has had three double-doubles over that stretch as well, including Saturday, where she shot 9-of-9 from the floor to tie a school record, and put up a career-high 22 points.

“I think you can’t say enough about Kendall and her toughness,” said Clayton. “I think you see that on the floor. She just has that grit. She plays so hard, she competes. She doesn’t back down to anybody. She’s playing through some injuries and things, too.

“Especially for a freshman, I think this season can get long. There can be some fatigue at this point, but you don’t see that at all from her. Even if it’s there, you don’t see it. That speaks volumes to that toughness, where she’s still going to step up and go for every defensive rebound, crash the (offensive) boards, and create for us. She’s just doing a great job and playing really well.”

SCOUTING

THE WILDCATS

Thursday, the Huskies will face their rivals, the Northern Michigan Wildcats, at the SDC Gym. The Wildcats come into the game 18-6 overall and 12-4 in the GLIAC after sweeping the Bulldogs and Lakers last weekend.

In Marquette earlier this season, the Huskies started very slowly against the Wildcats, but they did score 46 in the second half, coming up just short of completing the comeback, 68-64.

Junior guard Jacy Weisbrod is back from injury, and leads the team with an average of 13.4 points per game. She is the only player to average in double figures, and that is by design.

“They do a lot of things well,” Clayton said. “I think, specifically, they share the ball really well. I mean no one is really selfish on their team. They move it. Their posts can finish. All their posts finish above 50% from the field, and then their guards can really shoot the three. That makes it tough.

“You have to kind of pick your poison, and (that) makes it tough to guard. They always bring defensive fire. They’re well coached. They fly around defensively too, so they do a lot of things well.”

SCOUTING

THE LAKERS

The Huskies’ second matchup of the weekend will be in Chicago against the Roosevelt Lakers, who beat Michigan Tech earlier this season. The Lakers are 10-12 overall and 8-8 in GLIAC play after defeating the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals Saturday and then the Wayne State Warriors Monday.

Senior guard Luka Malinka leads the team with an average of 15.1 points per game. Senior forward Jayla Turchin (12.5) and sophomore guard Marie Outlay (11.8) also average in double figures.

GAME TIMES

The Huskies and Wildcats will battle Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the SDC Gym. Saturday, the Huskies and Lakers are set to play at 2 p.m. in Chicago.