The UMD women's basketball team fell short to Michigan Tech on Saturday with a final score of 61-46. With the loss, the Bulldogs' record is now 4-2 on the year.
The Bulldogs started off this matchup hot, going on an early 10-2 run. Then, with just under five minutes remaining in the first quarter, Michigan Tech's Katelyn Meister scored and sparked the Huskies' response. Finishing the period on a 13-0 run, Tech took control.
After the first frame, UMD was shooting 4-15 from the field. Ella Gilbertson and Maeyson Thiesen led the way with 3 points each. With plenty of time left, the Bulldogs looked to turn things around and regain the lead in quarter number two.
The second frame started off with another UMD run. This time it was to the tune of 6-2, and suddenly, it was a one-point game at 17-16 with just over five minutes left before halftime. However, Tech answered again. A 12-6 Huskies run to end the first half gave Michigan Tech a seven-point advantage heading into the locker room at 29-22. Although UMD turned its shooting around in period two, going 4-10 from the field, Tech still outscored the Bulldogs 14-12.
At the midway mark, UMD was led by Madelyn Granica's six points on 2-4 shooting to go along with three rebounds and a steal. Taya Hakamaki contributed all five of her points in period two, going a perfect 2-2 from the floor. Brooke Olson and Gilbertson each chipped in four points.
Coming out of halftime trailing by seven, UMD looked to turn things around. But Michigan Tech came out of the locker room hot, starting the half on a 12-4 run. The Bulldogs suddenly found themselves down 15 just over four minutes into the second half. A Taya Hakamaki three-pointer cut the lead to 12 as UMD chipped away, but every time the Bulldogs went on a run this game, Tech was quick to respond. At the two-minute mark in quarter number three, the Huskies had their largest lead all game, ahead 48-32. Gilbertson canned a three-pointer with 59 seconds left before the fourth to cut the deficit to 13.
The Bulldogs' shooting problems seemed to have turned around as they shot 9-21 (43%) from the field in quarters two and three, but in the fourth, struggles reemerged. UMD went 4-15 (27%) from the field once again.
The fourth quarter started off slow for both teams. This wasn't necessarily a bad thing for UMD, as it was able to slowly but surely crawl back into the game. With four minutes left in the matchup, Taytum Rhoades made a lay-up to cut the Huskies' lead to ten. As the story of this game goes, right when UMD was about to be within striking distance, Michigan Tech responded. The Huskies closed things out on a 9-4 run to take the contest 61-46.
The Bulldogs were led by Taya Hakamaki with 12 points off the bench, shooting a solid 4-6 from the floor. Granica scored 11 on 4-8 shooting and also secured four rebounds. Gilbertson had nine points along with four rebounds and two assists. Olson led the rebounding efforts with 10.
Michigan Tech's leading scorer was Ellie Mackay, who posted a game-high 17 points. Isabella Lenz had 14 off the bench, and Alex Rondorf had 12.
POST-GAME WITH PEARSON
In a game like Saturday's when baskets aren't falling as much as usual, it can be difficult to gut through and keep fighting. Despite the overall outcome, UMD head coach Mandy Pearson was happy to see that her squad was able to do just that
"I thought our team did a good job of continuing to play hard through a rough shooting night,: Pearson said "We stuck with the process- and started to make a run. Unfortunately, Tech answered back to our run."
You ultimately expect a team like Tech, which improved to 6-1 with their win on Saturday, to have an answer or two. That's the nature of the game. Pearson feels as if it's a game worth playing- win or lose, there's always a silver lining.
"I love playing tough competition because it is the best way to learn and grow as a team," Pearson said.
