David Archambeau/For the Gazette Michigan Tech guard Kendall Standfest attempts a layup during a game against Northern Michigan Thursday at the SDC Gym in Houghton.

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HOUGHTON — In a battle of rivals 100 miles apart, both teams had quarters where they controlled play, other quarters where they struggled to accomplish much, and stretches where both squads answered each other’s shots as the Michigan Tech Huskies women’s basketball team ultimately emerged victorious, 64-59, Thursday at the SDC Gym.

With the win, the Huskies improved to 11-14 overall and 8-9 in GLIAC play, but no win feels sweeter for Michigan Tech than one over their rivals.

“Yeah, this game is always one we look forward to all year,” said Huskies coach Sam Clayton. “The last time we played them, this time, especially having lost the last game, especially having played so bad there and still almost pulling it out, yeah, we wanted this one. You could tell. The way we came out with our fire, with our urgency in the first half, was phenomenal. It means a ton to our seniors, to this team, to be able to get that win, and (I am) super proud of the way we competed tonight.”

The game most likely was the last time that seniors Isabella Lenz, Emma Anderson, and Maryellen Trewhella will suit up as Huskies at home, and that was part of the focus for the team as well.

“It’s definitely an awesome feeling for our team, because, obviously, sending the seniors out on a win here at the Wood Gym, and everything they’ve given to this team the past four, five years, it’s just a great feeling for us to go out with a win,” said guard Kendall Standfest. “So, that was awesome that we were able to come away with the win. I think we played with great urgency, great fire, and that’s what led us to win.”

Standfest, a freshman, led the Huskies with 15 points, going 9-of-9 from the free throw line along the way. She also drew the toughest assignment defensively, figuring out how to stop the Wildcats’ Jacy Weisbrod, who scored 16.

“I obviously didn’t shoot the greatest, 3-of-11, but going into the week of practice, the coaches just wanted me to be able to key in on 23 from their team, who’s a great player,” Standfest said. “She played awesome.”

Standfest felt that the Huskies, especially in the second and fourth quarters, brought the type of defensive play that will make them successful in the postseason.

“I think just the defensive intensity our team brought and everything, it led to great offensive opportunities,” she said. “Even if it wasn’t for me scoring, other people (were) scoring. Just the urgency we brought on defense led to the offensive side. So, that was good to see for our team.”

Clayton was impressed with how poised her budding freshman guard continues to perform.

“She had some great takes where, I don’t know, maybe she got fouled, maybe not,” Clayton said. “She got the look she normally does, and some of those jumpers didn’t fall and things like that. But, she got to the free throw line. She drew a lot of fouls, and four assists, no turnovers. So, she’s also creating for other people.

“You just have to respect her. I think something we didn’t mention yet, and maybe the most important part of her game, she defended 23 almost the whole game, made her take tough shots most of the time. One time we doubled, and we gave her a wide open three, but, if a freshman makes one mistake in the game, that’s pretty impressive. So, she did a phenomenal job defensively, had to work her butt off.”

The two teams battled to a 15-15 stalemate after 10 minutes before the Huskies opened the second quarter on a 17-4 run. The Huskies held a 15-point advantage with just 25.5 seconds left in the half before Abi Fraaza, who led all scorers with 18, made a layup to close out the half with the Huskies ahead 38-25.

The Wildcats used that late layup as a spark, and rattled off a 14-0 run before Huskies sophomore guard Alyssa Wypych made a pair of free throws. Yet the Wildcats kept coming, and they led by six with less than a minute remaining in the quarter. Lenz hit a jumper and junior forward Maja Kozlowska matched Fraaza’s buzzer-beater with one of her own to close out the quarter and pull the Huskies back within two, 46-44.

In the final frame, Standfest drew foul after foul, and made multiple key free throws, helping the Huskies take a three-point lead with just over two minutes remaining at 57-54. That gave the Huskies a chance to turn to Lenz in the last 90 seconds for two key jump shots and a free throw to extend the lead. She finished with 10 points.

UP NEXT

The Huskies hit the road to Chicago, where they will face the Roosevelt Lakers at 2 p.m. Saturday.