PORT HURON, MI – The Bay College Norse Women's Basketball Team (7-2) lost just their second game of the season on Friday evening.  The St. Clair County Community College Skippers (3-5) held on in a tightly contested game to take a 59-55 victory on their home court.

The Norse started off in control, hitting five of 11 shots from the field in the first quarter and holding the Skippers to just four of 14 during the same period.  Bay held a 16-9 lead after the first quarter.  An 11-2 run by the home team to start the second quarter changed the momentum, and from there it would be a back-and-forth affair.  The Norse clung to a five-point lead at the half.

Neither team would be able to gain a considerable advantage in the second half.  The game featured ten lead changes and six ties as the two teams dueled to a dramatic finish.  With just under three minutes to play, Haley Trudell (SO, Rock, MI) hit a three-pointer to give the Norse a 53-52 lead.  It would be the last time Bay would be on top.  St. Clair County scored on consecutive possessions.  The Norse answered with just over a minute to play, but could not connect on their final two possessions of the game, falling by a four-point deficit.

Bay's offense peaked in that first quarter as they only shot 32.1% for the game.  The Skippers ended the game shooting 33.9%, but gained a huge advantage in the ball control department.  They forced 30 Norse turnovers, while only turning it over 17 times themselves.  Bay grabbed 46 rebounds in the matchup, while St. Clair County only grabbed 24.

Keishawna McGruder (SO, Flint, MI) led all scorers.  She ended with 27 points, seven rebounds, and four steals.  HaLaya Cato (FR, Pontiac, MI) finished with 16 points, seven rebounds and four steals, while Brooklyn Taylor (FR, Detroit, MI) scored 11 points.

Bay's Holly Wardynski (FR, Ontonagon, MI) and Taylor Hunter (SO, Gladstone, MI) each scored ten points.  Keshia Davis (SO, St. Ignace, MI) ended with nine points and nine rebounds. 

The Norse are competing in the St. Clair County Classic this weekend.  They will stay in Port Huron and face Mid Michigan tomorrow.  Tip off is scheduled for 11 am.