KENOSHA, Wis. - Parkside women's basketball slipped below .500 for the first time this season Saturday afternoon, falling 65-60 to Michigan Tech in a tightly contested GLIAC matchup at DeSimone Arena. The Rangers dropped to 4-5 overall and 0-2 in conference play, while the Huskies improved to 6-2 and 2-0 in the league.
Despite shooting an even 40 percent from the field and a perfect 100 percent at the free throw line, Parkside could not overcome Michigan Tech's second chance production and timely perimeter shooting. The Huskies finished at 40 percent from the floor, hit 41 percent of their threes and went 86 percent at the line, while owning a 32-31 edge on the glass and turning 10 offensive rebounds into 11 second chance points. Parkside, by contrast, did not register a single second chance point and committed 18 turnovers that led to 12 Tech points.
Michigan Tech came out blazing in the first quarter, knocking down four threes and shooting 50 percent from the field to build a 27-21 lead after 10 minutes. Ella Mason scored early from deep and Kendall Standfest added eight first quarter points as the Huskies repeatedly capitalized on transition chances. Parkside stayed within striking distance behind the hot hand of junior guard Lexi Bugajski, who buried an early three and attacked the rim, and forward Cassidy Arni, who scored inside and at the line. The Rangers shot 46 percent in the opening period and went 7-for-7 at the stripe to keep the deficit manageable.
The second quarter turned into a defensive grind. Parkside tightened up on the perimeter, holding Michigan Tech to just five points on 20 percent shooting, including 1-for-4 from three. Lillie Petersen sparked the Rangers with a driving layup, and Katie Hamill added another finish in traffic to trim the margin. Arni knocked down a three off a kickout from Peighton Nelson, and Nelson later hit a pullup jumper in the lane to briefly give Parkside the lead before a late Huskies three sent Tech into halftime in front, 32-30.
Both teams continued to battle through an ugly third quarter, where each side scored only 10 points. Michigan Tech pushed its lead to six on back-to-back layups from Janie Tormanen, but Parkside responded at the line as Alli Hampel converted two free throws, then added a jumper and a layup inside to bring the Rangers within two. Bugajski hit a midrange jumper late in the period, and Parkside closed the quarter trailing just 42-40 after holding the Huskies to 29 percent shooting in the frame.
The fourth quarter featured five lead changes and showcased why Michigan Tech is one of the GLIAC's most balanced lineups. Tormanen scored on the opening possession, Ella Mason drilled a three from the right wing and reserve guard Dani Nuest finished a driving layup to push the Huskies in front 49-42. Parkside answered with its best stretch of the afternoon. Arni scored on a cut to the basket, then Bugajski buried a three in transition to slice the deficit to two. After another defensive stop, Petersen finished at the rim, and Arni calmly hit two free throws to tie the game at 51-51 with 4:33 remaining.
Peighton Nelson briefly put the Rangers in front 54-51 on a jumper and a free throw with just over three minutes to play, but Tech closed the game on a 14-6 run. Mason answered with a jumper in the lane, Alyssa Wypych slipped free for a go-ahead layup, and Standfest buried a dagger three from the left wing to give the Huskies a four-point cushion with 1:33 left. After a Parkside miss, Soraya Timms hit a pullup jumper to stretch the lead to six. The Rangers got a late three from Arni with six seconds remaining, but Michigan Tech sealed the game at the line in the final minute.
Bugajski led Parkside with 14 points, tying her career high on 5-for-9 shooting, including 2-for-5 from three, and a perfect 2-for-2 at the free throw line. She also grabbed a team-high nine rebounds and added a block. Arni matched her with 14 points on an efficient 4-for-8 from the field and 2-for-4 from deep, while going 4-for-4 at the stripe and pulling down six boards to go with two assists, a block and a steal. Nelson finished with 12 points on 4-for-11 shooting and went 4-for-4 at the line, directing the offense with a game-high seven assists and adding three rebounds and a steal. Petersen contributed seven points and six rebounds, and Hampel provided six points, two rebounds and a block off the bench. As a team, the Rangers shot 40 percent from the floor, 19 percent from three and 100 percent at the line.
Mason paced Michigan Tech with a game high 18 points, going 5-for-13 from the field, 2-for-5 from beyond the arc and 6-for-6 at the line, while adding four rebounds, four assists and a steal. Standfest finished with 12 points on 5-for-12 shooting, including 2-for-4 from three, and grabbed a game-high six rebounds with two steals. Timms orchestrated the offense with eight points and a game-high eight assists, and Tormanen chipped in six points and three rebounds in the post. Off the bench, Nuest and Kaitlyn Maxwell combined for 14 points on 5-for-6 shooting and hit three of Tech's seven threes. The Huskies ended the day with 22 points in the paint, six fast break points and a 17-6 advantage in bench scoring.
Parkside will look to regroup after the 0-2 start to conference play. The Rangers return to action after a ten day break in the schedule, playing one final non-conference game against UIS at home on Tuesday, December 16th, at 5:00 p.m. CT.
To keep up with the Rangers, be sure to visit parksiderangers.com/coverage.
