ESCANABA, MI – Long periods of little offensive from the Bay Norse Women's Basketball Team (7-16, 3-6 MCCAA) helped tip the scales in favor of the Grand Rapids Community College Raiders (12-7, 6-3 MCCAA) on Saturday afternoon as the visitors would open up a big lead in the second half and roll to a 71-36 win on the road.
Bay played the Raiders tough in the opening half. After closing the game to a one-point deficit midway through the first half, the Norse allowed their guests to go on a run. Grand Rapids scored the next eight points before the home team got back into rhythm. The Raiders led 16-11 after the first.
Bay worked to erase the spread, and managed to with in two with just over five minutes left in the second quarter. That's when the Norse offense stumbled. The home team would not hit a shot from the field for the rest of the half as the Raiders would rattle off ten points to take a 30-19 lead at intermission.
Unfortunately, halftime did not give the Norse a reset to their offense, as Bay would not score again until just under three minutes left in the third quarter. In total, the Norse played over 12 minutes without hitting a shot from the field. It resulted in a disastrous 26-1 stretch that gave Grand Rapids all they needed to run away with the game.
The fourth quarter stayed true to the recent narrative and Bay once again found themselves in the throws of another long scoring drought. This time they would go approximately five and a half minutes without producing a point, allowing GRCC to lead by as many as 41 points, before a series of baskets in the final minutes closed the game to the final 35-point deficit.
Alyssa Cretton (SO, Niagara, WI) led the Norse with 14 points. Leah Allan (FR, Oconto, WI) grabbed nine rebounds. Alaina Trudeau (SO, Gladstone, MI) who was back on the court for the first time in over a month grabbed seven rebounds.
For the Raiders Sally Merrill (SO, Allegan, MI) finished with 26 points and six rebounds. Grace Lodes (SO, Comstock Park, MI) ended up with 12 points and six rebounds. Allison Kellogg (SO Jenison, MI) scored 11 points, grabbed five rebounds, and had three assists, two steals, and two blocks.
Bay will host a big matchup on Wednesday evening when they welcome Alpena Community College into town. The Lumberjacks are coming off of a 70-51 loss at home at the hands of Muskegon Community College. Alpena currently sits one game in front of the Norse in the conference standings and are in control of the fifth and final postseason position up for grabs in the Northern Conference. That pivotal matchup will tip at 5:30 pm.