ESCANABA, MI - The Bay College Norse Women's Basketball Team (6-5) escaped an upset attempt by the Alpena Community College Lumberjacks (3-5) Wednesday night, pulling out a 62-59 win at the Bay College Gym.
Andie Arsenault (FR, Hermansville, MI) swished four straight free throws in the final seconds after Alpena took a 59-58 lead in its bid to beat the Norse for the first time in the history of the series.
Mollie Girard (SO, Alpena, MI) made five three-pointers for the Lumberjacks, including one with 54.4 seconds left in the game that gave Alpena the lead. But the Norse attacked the basket, and Arsenault earned the trip to the free throw line on both of the team's final possessions, and the Bay defense got stops at the other end to preserve their sixth win of the season.
The first quarter was sluggish for both teams, with Madison Olsen (SO, St. Ignace, MI) scoring an "and-one" basket and making all three of her free throws. Girard, however, sank a three at the buzzer and Alpena led, 11-10, after the first ten minutes.
Bay opened up a 23-16 lead as Andie Arsenault and Bree Arsenault (SO, Hermansville, MI) scored second quarter triples, while Olsen and Cheveney Koski (SO, Rock, MI) both added threes. But Alpena's Jade Schultz (FR, Alpena, MI) countered with three baskets in the paint, and the Lumberjacks were down just 28-27 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Kennedy Englund (SO, Rock, MI) knocked down a pair of three-pointers and Andie Arsenault scored three times inside. Alaina Trudeau (FR, Gladstone, MI) came off the bench to swish four free throws, and the Norse led, 49-46, entering the fourth quarter.
The Lumberjacks knocked down a pair of technical foul shots in the fourth quarter, and Alpena grabbed a 52-49 lead. Olsen found Koski inside for an "and-one" basket, and her Mid Pen teammate, Englund, came up with her third three of the game to give the Norse a 57-54 lead.
Both teams had multiple chances to score, but both ran into dry spells, until Girard knocked down that late three and Arsenault calmly swished all four of her free throws at the end.
Andie Arsenault led Bay with 17 points, five rebounds, five assists, and two steals. She made all six of her free throws. Olsen had 14 points, five rebounds, and three assists.
Girard led Alpena with 17 points, coming up one rebound shy of a double-double with nine boards. Allison DeRocher (FR, Alpena, MI) was held below her season average when she scored ten points on 3 of 9 shooting. She had eight rebounds. Schultz contributed 14 points and eight rebounds as Alpena outrebounded the Norse, 44-27, including 15-1 on the offensive glass.
Bay was nearly flawless at the foul line, making 15 of 17 free throws, while Alpena shot well from the line as well (10-of-12).
This was the final home game of the 2021 calendar year for Bay, and they've only played three games on their home court altogether. They won't play at home again until January 7th.
The Norse will be on the road again this weekend in the Chicagoland area, when they face Harper College on Saturday and Joliet Junior College on Sunday.
Story courtesy of Jack Hall, RRN Sports