MTU Women's Hoops falls to Clayton St. in final

Posted: 03.26.2011 at 12:12 AM Updated: 03.26.2011 at 12:40 AM

Read more: Sports, Michigan Tech, Clayton State, Lisa Staehlin, Teshysia Tillman

Lakers press defense scores 29 points off 25 Huskie turnovers

ST. JOSEPHS, MO -- Courtesy: MTU

Michigan Tech's run in the NCAA Tournament was stopped one step short of the ultimate prize tonight as No. 2-ranked Clayton State defeated the No. 3 Huskies 69-50 in the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship game. The 35-1 Lakers, who were one win (and one point, for that matter) away from a perfect season, used a relentless press and forced 25 Tech turnovers to claim their school's first national title.

Lisa Staehlin led the Huskies with 18 points while Teshymia Tillman poured in 26 for the Lakers.

Michigan Tech had a 20-15 cushion with 9:20 left in the first half, but Tech was scoreless for the next five minutes.

Clayton State closed the first half with an 18-4 run and opened the second half with a 9-0 run to take a 40-24 advantage.

The Huskies' run, which seemed improbable to start the season with no returning starters and a first-year head coach, ends with a 31-3 record. Tech advanced further into the NCAA Tournament than any other team in the program's history, coming within 40 minutes of earning the school's first national title since 1975, an NCAA Division I men's ice hockey crown.

A welcome home celebration will be held Saturday at 2pm at the SDC Gym.