Michigan Tech guard Kendall Standfest defends during a game against Saginaw Valley State Saturday in University Center, Michigan. (Photo courtesy of Michigan Tech University)

UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. — The Michigan Tech Huskies women’s basketball team opened the fourth quarter on a 6-0 run to take its first lead since the opening minutes but ultimately would not overcome the timely play of the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals in crunch time, falling at the O’Neill Arena 56-49 on Saturday afternoon.

“We had another slow start–another game where we aren’t making the reads offensively and getting the looks we can,” said Huskies coach Sam Clayton. “In general the game was disappointing, Kendall and Ella were probably our best sparks but there’s definitely a lot of room for growth with too many turnovers, which was our number one key.”

Michigan Tech (9-13, 6-8 GLIAC) started slow in the opening frame, being outscored 16-7, with Aliesha Jones accounting for 11 points for the Cardinals. However, the Huskies held Saginaw Valley State (12-10, 6-8 GLIAC) scoreless in the opening for minutes of the second quarter, holding the home team to just nine points over the second ten minutes, seeing SVSU head into halftime with a three-point advantage, 25-22 with the freshman duo of Kendall Standfest and Ella Mason leading the way for the Black and Gold with five points apiece.

The two teams were more evenly matched to start the second half as both teams scored 12 points, with Standfest producing eight points while Lydia Meredith matched her offensive output for the Cardinals. Standfest helped the Huskies enter the final quarter of action down 37-34 with a transition 3-pointer at the buzzer off an assist by Mason.

Michigan Tech earned its first lead since the opening possession of the first half by using a 6-0 run to start the final quarter with four-straight points from veteran Isabella Lenz from a floater and a steal and score with an assist by Janie Tormanen before a jumper by Standfest forced an SVSU timeout with 8:29 to play.

From there, SVSU would outscore the Huskies 17-9 while getting six turnovers and two blocks defensively helping set up the offense in transition. Jones, after being quiet since the opening quarter, scored a team-leading 10 points for the Cardinals down the stretch with Ava Locklear adding five points to put the SVSU ahead for the final time from the 3:16 mark to the finish, earning the series split by a score of 56-49.

Standfest tied her career-high with 18 points and led the team with nine rebounds. Lenz joined her in double-digit scoring with 11 points, while Mason added nine off the bench.

Jones finished with a game-high 21 points, adding nine boards as Megan McCalla had 12 points and Locklear recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

UP NEXT

The Huskies are back at the SDC Gym for three-straight games starting next week, welcoming Ferris State on Thursday (5:30 p.m.) and Lake Superior State Saturday (12 p.m.) for Senior Day and Play4Kay Day.