OSHKOSH, WI - The Bay College Norse Women's Basketball Team (8-15) got the chance to play in a 4,200-seat arena on Tuesday afternoon against one of the best teams in the country in NJCAA Division Two.
The Norse fell to the deep and talented Bryant & Stratton Bobcats (21-3), 94-42, at the Menominee Nation Arena in Oshkosh, home of the Milwaukee Bucks' G League affiliate Wisconsin Herd.
"It's a cool opportunity for a couple of teams to get together and it was a win-win situation for us to play in a very cool place, as well as a closer place [than playing the Bobcats in Milwaukee]," Norse Coach Matt Gregory said.
The sixth-ranked Bobcats had four players score in double figures and their defense forced multiple turnover that led to baskets at the other end.
"They're a very, very tough team," Gregory said. "The games they win are by 30-plus points. They really take it to teams. They're long, they're athletic, they're quick. They like to get a lot of points off their press. They use their quickness to get into spaces and pressure."
Cheveney Koski (SO, Rock, MI) had a nice finish on the first possession to tie the game at 2-2, and Kennedy Englund (SO, Rock, MI) knocked down a triple to close to within 8-7. But the Bobcats scored 19 straight points to expand the lead to 27-7 and it was all downhill from there for the Norse.
Koski led Bay with ten points. Bree Arsenault (SO, Hermansville, MI) added seven points and Andie Arsenault (FR, Hermansville, MI) chipped in six. It was a homecoming of sorts for Bay's Stephanie Frappy (FR, Bondeul, WI), who went to Bonduel High School about 45 minutes away.
"I've actually never been in downtown Oshkosh before," Frappy laughed. "Only at the outsides of Oshkosh, like the outlet mall. It's kind of cool to come down here with people from Michigan, but, it's home. As close as I'm ever going to get to be playing around my town!"
Frappy swished a three-pointer in the third quarter for the Norse.
The Bobcats were led by La'Janique Perry-Ellis (SO, Milwaukee, WI), who scored 20 points.
Maxime Paulowske (FR, Kewaskum, WI), who did not play against the Norse in last month's game in Escanaba, had three triples and scored 15 points.
Faith Watkins (SO, Milwaukee, WI) added twelve points, and Lacyia Hill (FR, Green Bay, WI) contributed 11.
Bay College will close the regular season with two games in the Chicagoland area this weekend. They'll face Moraine Valley Community College Friday night at 6:15 ET, and will have a rematch with South Suburban College at 2:00 Saturday afternoon.
Story and photo courtesy of Jack Hall, RRN Sports