Michigan Tech posed a problem for Tiffin, as it does for most of its opponents.
The Huskies can take control of a game in the paint, but they also can make long-range shots.
"We knew that between 3's and in the paint, we had to kind of pick our poison," Dragon coach Pam Oswald said. "We just didn't do a very good job of it."
Michigan Tech outscored TU 26-14 in the paint, and out-rebounded it 48-40. The Huskies shot well from deep, making 10 of 22 3's.
When a team does that, it's hard to beat, as Michigan Tech showed Saturday with a 70-53 win at the Gillmor Center.
Sam Hoyt gave the Dragons fits all day, scoring 18 points and dishing five assists. She was one of three Huskies to score in double figures.
Fact Box
Michigan Tech 70, Tiffin 53
Michigan Tech (7-2, 5-1): Jillian Ritchie 5-0-12; Taylor Stippel 5-0-14; Emma Veach 2-0-6; Sam Hoyt 6-2-18; Paige Albi 1-0-2; Michelle Gaedke 0-5-5; Kylie Moxley 2-1-5; Mackenzie Perttu 3-0-7; Kerry Gardner 0-0-0; Kelcey Traynoff 1-0-3; Danielle Blake 0-0-0; Emily Harrison 1-0-2; Heather Kessler 0-0-0. Totals: 26-8-70.
Tiffin (3-5, 1-4): Jessica Harris 0-0-0; Jillian Adams 7-3-17; Mackenzie Storlie 2-5-10; Stephanie Kelly 3-0-8; Stephanie Kelly 3-0-8; Melissa Gilliland 3-4-11; Marisa Liburdi 0-0-0; Jordan Fraley 2-0-5; Macy Byrd 0-0-0; Jessica Farr 1-0-2; Erica Mathis 0-0-0. Totals:18-12-53.
Halftime: Michigan Tech 35-25.
Field goals: Michigan Tech 18-58; Tiffin 18-58.
3-point goals: Michigan Tech 10-22 (Hoyt 4-9, Veach 2-2, Perttu 1-2, Traynoff 1-2); Tiffin 5-12 (Kelly 2-4, Storlie 1-2, Gilliland 1-3, Fraley 1-2).
Foul shots: Michigan Tech 8-11; Tiffin 12-16.
Rebounds: Michigan Tech 48 (Albi 12); Tiffin 40 (Harris 10).
Turnovers: Michigan Tech 10; Tiffin 13.
Assists: Michigan Tech 17 (Hoyt 5, Gaedke 4); Tiffin 12 (Storlie 4, Fraley 4).
"I thought Sam had an exceptional game today, I thought she was the leader," Michigan Tech coach Kim Cameron said.
Hoyt led the Huskies early scoring three points and delivering two assists during a game-opening 10-0 run that put Tiffin in catch-up mode, where it remained for the rest of the game. The Dragons trailed 35-25 at the half, and trailed by as many as 25 after the break.
Tiffin was led on offense by forward Jillian Adams, who had 17 points, Melissa Gilliland, who scored 11, and Mackenzie Storlie, who registered 10. But Tiffin shot just 31 percent (18 of 58) from the field and its leader, post Jessica Harris, was held scoreless despite 10 boards.
"She was a big focus of ours coming into the game," Cameron said. "We just know how effective she can be, because she can shoot from 3-point [range] or she can shoot a great fadeaway 15-footer, which that was a huge part of our preparation."
Cameron said the Huskies kept their best defender - Jillian Richie - on Harris. Richie not only stopped Harris from scoring, but she was a contributor for Michigan Tech elsewhere, finishing with 12 points and five rebounds.
Oswald said Adams was very effective in the post, but it wasn't enough.
"Just felt we couldn't get our other post players - it'd be fantastic to be able to have two post players, three post players be able to go in and get the ball strong," Oswald said. "Jess just didn't seem to be on her game, and Jessica Farr ... we missed way too many layups."
Michigan Tech improved to 7-2, 5-1 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Tiffin, which fell to 3-5, 1-4, will play again at Gillmor Center Tuesday against Northern Michigan.
"To me, it's a constant of chemistry, of playing together," Oswald said. "What we've been able to see from our Dragons' teams in the past has been clicking and being on the same flow. Setting those screens, working together. Right now we still have a couple people just kind of out there."
