January 16, 2008 - The Hillsdale College men's and women's basketball teams will get a taste of life up north this weekend, when they travel to the Upper Peninsula for games at Michigan Tech (Saturday) and Northern Michigan (Sunday).

This figures to be a key weekend set of games for both Charger teams, who will begin a two-week homestand starting Jan. 24. Both teams are in the top half of the GLIAC South Division standings, and wins on the road over those two U.P. schools could solidify the teams' spots in the league rankings.

MEN'S PREVIEW
The high-scoring Chargers bring the GLIAC's most prolific offense to the U.P. this weekend, taking on two of the more stingy defenses in the conference. Hillsdale is averaging 85.8 points per game, and has scored 90 or more points five times this season.

Kickstarting that offense are the GLIAC's top two individual scorers, Tony Gugino and Tim Homan. They rank 1-2 in the conference in scoring, and are each enjoying their best seasons wearing Charger blue.

But there's more to Hillsdale's ability to score besides putting the ball in the basket. Hillsdale is No. 1 in the GLIAC in 3-pointers made, No. 2 in 3-point field goal percentage, blocked shots and assists. Hillsdale also ranks third in the GLIAC in free throw percentage and field goal percentage, which speaks to the efficiency Hillsdale is playing with on the offensive end of the court.

Junior guard Keith MacKenzie, in his first season with Hillsdale after transferring from Oakland University, is averaging 15.0 points per game and is No. 1 in the GLIAC in assists per game.

Home court has been a key factor in the series between the Chargers and their two rivals from up north. In 2005-06, Hillsdale lost both games to Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan in the U.P. In those games, Hillsdale scored a total of 98 points. But one year later, the Chargers defeated both teams by a combined 24 points.

Michigan Tech (8-7 overall, 3-4 GLIAC) hosts the Chargers at 3 p.n. Saturday. The Huskies are No. 2 in the conference in free throw shooting, and are on a two-game winning streak. Michigan Tech has either won or lost two straight games over its past six contests. Tech and Northern Michigan are the two lowest scoring teams in the GLIAC.

Northern Michigan (2-13 overall, 2-4 GLIAC) has lost six of its last seven games, but won last Thursday, 60-55 over Northwood at home. The Wildcats lost the GLIAC's top scorer, Ricky Volcy, to graduation last year. The team is last in the GLIAC in point differential, but has two of the top five players in minutes played in the conference this season.

NMU defeated Michigan Tech 61-51 in their only meeting of this season, back on Dec. 8.

WOMEN'S PREVIEW
Winners of four straight games, the Hillsdale College women's basketball team will look to maintain a hold of first place in the GLIAC South Division this weekend.

But it won't be easy. In addition to the long trip up north, the Chargers will face one of their toughest road tests of the season when they face Michigan Tech (1 p.m. Saturday) and Northern Michigan (2 p.m. Sunday).

Hillsdale is 5-1 in the GLIAC and shares first place in the South Division with Gannon University. Saturday's clash will be a matchup of the two best teams in the GLIAC in winning percentage. The Huskies (13-3, 6-1 GLIAC) are in first place in the GLIAC North Division and have established themselves as one of the most powerful teams in the conference this season.

MTU ranks first in the GLIAC in scoring margin, field goal percentage and 3-point field goal percentage. The Huskies are No. 2 in the conference in scoring defense, and are led by Katie Wysocky, who has emerged as an elite player this season.

The 2006-07 GLIAC Freshman of the Year, Wysocky is in what can be considered the opposite of a sophomore slump. She is fourth in the GLIAC in scoring, third in rebounds, second in free throw percentage and first in 3-point field goal percentage. She is one of the most complete players in the GLIAC, and will be a matchup challenge for the Chargers.

Last year, Hillsdale snapped a three-game losing streak to Michigan Tech with a hard-fought 69-65 win at Jesse Philips Arena.

The Huskies are on a seven-game winning streak, with their last loss coming on Dec. 15 at Findlay, 92-77. MTU defeated Northern Michigan 74-61 in the only meeting between the teams this season, on Dec. 8.

Northern Michigan (7-8 overall, 2-5 GLIAC) also has a strong defensive team, ranking fourth in the GLIAC in points allowed, and is third in the conference in point differential despite sitting one game under .500.

The Wildcats have played several close games this season, with eight of their 15 contests being decided by eight points or less. On the other side of that, NMU has won games by 59 and 68 points this season, vs. Northland College and Marygrove College, respectively.

Hillsdale has shown improvement in its offense during its current four-game winning streak. The Chargers are averaging 83.3 points in their past three games, and have gotten career-high scoring performances from four different players in that span.

Junior Katie Cezat is enjoying a breakthough season for the Chargers, leading the GLIAC in both scoring (21.0) and rebounding (11.9). She ranks in the top 10 in four other categories.

Sophomore Brooke Knight dished out a career-high 11 assists in Thursday's home win over Lake Superior State. She had just one turnover in that game, and is fourth in the GLIAC in assists and seventh in minutes played.

Hillsdale leads the GLIAC in field goal percentage defense, and ranks second in scoring margin and third in scoring defense.

For more information on this weekend's Hillsdale opponents, click on the links below.

Michigan Tech men's basketball

Northern Michigan men's basketball

Michigan Tech women's basketball

Northern Michigan women's basketball