Parkside 80, Michigan Tech 66
Four Rangers in double-digits and a 24-12 second quarter powered the team to their tenth GLIAC win on the year. Parkside was led by senior guard Taylor Stephen, who registered a triple double with 24 points, 12 assists, and 11 rebounds.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Stephen started the game strong with seven first quarter points, but the Rangers found themselves down 20-19 at the end of the frame. Parkside quickly grabbed the lead in the second quarter on a three from junior Alisha Murphy. Murphy's three kicked off the Rangers best quarter of basketball, as they outscored the Huskies 24-12 in the quarter, and took a 43-32 lead into halftime.
 
The Green & White came out of the break and extended their lead to 22 after rattling off a 14-1 run in the first four minutes of the half. Michigan Tech fought to get back in the game, but never got closer than 11.
 
HEAR FROM COACH CONELY
"It is so hard to win on the road," said head coach Jen Conely. "I'm proud of how we bounced back from Thursday's game. We've been battling injuries and knew that we needed to band together and be resilient. We needed everyone to step up and it was great to see everyone make an impact."
 
"I was so excited to Alisha Murphy knock down big shots because she is definitely capable of doing that for us," Conely continued. "Carolina Rahkonen did a fantastic job being ready to knock down threes. Those two got us going early – when we catch it ready to shoot, we shoot very well. Taylor Stephen was on a whole other level today, and it might have been the best individual performance that I have witnessed in person. She sets the tone for us and was all over the place. Just getting big rebounds, putting teammates in positions to score, and then knocking down big shots throughout the game. It was an absolutely incredible performance."
 
"Big win today for our team," Conely concluded. "We want to continue to play good basketball and build momentum as we head down the final stretch of GLIAC play."
 
STATWORTHY
Aside from Stephen's 24, there were three other Rangers in double figures. Murphy had a career-high 17 points, Rahkonen also had 17 to go with six rebounds, and sophomore Alyssa Nelson finished with 10. The Huskies were led by Cassidy Trotter, who poured in 22 points, five steals, three assists, three rebounds, and two blocks.
 
Neither team had trouble putting the ball in the basket, shooting a combined 47.8-percent. Parkside went 30-for-60 (50.0-percent) from the field, and 14-for-25 (56.0-percent) from beyond the arc. Michigan Tech wasn't far behind, shooting 25-55 (45.5-percent) from the field and 3-of-17 (17.6-percent) from three. The Rangers dominated the rebounding battle (+15), but lost points in the paint (+14).
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Rangers are in for a test as they are heading to #2 Ashland to take on the GLIAC leaders on Thursday, Feb. 13 at 4:30 p.m. The road-trip will then conclude in Detroit, Mich. as Parkside will battle Wayne State on Saturday, Feb. 15 at noon.