ESCANABA, MI – The Norse Women's Basketball Team (6-7) picked up a pair of wins in their holiday classic tournament. On Friday they dominated the Western Tech Cavaliers (1-10) by running away with a 75-23 win. On Saturday they followed that up with a 55-49 victory over Gogebic Community College (1-6).
On Friday it was all Bay College as they led throughout the matchup. After opening up an 11-point lead in the first quarter, the Norse defense really clamped down. The Cavaliers did not convert any shots from the field in the frame, and ended up with a lone free throw. The Norse enjoyed a comfortable 34-9 lead at the half.
Western Tech's offense never really got going as they were hounded by an aggressive, full court defense for much of the matchup. Bay forced 33 turnovers from their opponent. They would lead by 40 heading into the final frame and ended with a 52-point differential in the contest.
Bay held Western Tech to just 15.8% shooting on the evening. The Norse outrebounded the Cavaliers 48-32 and had only 13 turnovers.
Ashlee Burchette (FR, Minneapolis, MN) was fantastic. She ended up with 36 points, six steals, two rebounds, and two assists. Her effort set a new single game record for women's basketball at Bay College.
Siena Lingle (FR, Marquette, MI) added 13 points and had five rebounds, five steals, and three assists. Kennedy Sproule (FR, Winnipeg, MB) added 11 points and seven rebounds. Jada Freudinger (FR, Norway, MI) grabbed 11 rebounds while Emma Rutter (SO, Chatham, MI) pulled in ten rebounds.
Rylie Radloff (FR, Prescott, WI) was the leading scorer for the Cavaliers with eight points. Emma Hunt (FR, La Crescent, MN) grabbed 11 rebounds.
The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Norse.
Bay found itself in a much closer battle the following afternoon as the Samsons battled them to a draw after the first quarter.
The Norse were able to create a cushion in the second by holding the Samsons to just ten points. Freudinger's post defense proved to be a key in the run, and Sproule and Burchette added seven points apiece to give the home team a 30-21 lead at intermission.
The Norse grabbed a ten-point lead early in the third quarter, and with the game at a tipping point, Gogebic responded. An 11-3 run by the Samsons put them right back into the mix, cutting the lead to two. Burchette and the Norse responded by hitting a shot from behind the three-point arc. The Norse had the last possession of the quarter and took advantage, as Burchette got to the rim with one second left, got her shot to fall, and took the foul. She converted the free throw attempt to make 42-34 in favor of Bay heading into the final period.
The Samsons got hot from deep in the fourth quarter. Hanna Hoskin (SO, Minneapolis, MN) would drill four three-pointers to keep her squad in the mix. Kate Borseth (FR, Bruce Crossing, MI) hit on a three to cut the to three in the final minute, but the Samsons were forced to foul to extend the game and Burchette and Lingle sealed the deal at the charity stripe.
Burchette finished with 17 points, five rebounds, five assists, four steals, and two blocks. Freudinger was seven of 14 from the floor to end up with 14 points and seven rebounds. Lingle grabbed ten rebounds and Sproule had nine points and nine rebounds.
Borseth led all scorers with 22 points. Hoskin ended her night with 14 points and seven rebounds.
The Norse will take a break for the holiday season before picking back up on December 29 and 30 at Just a Game Fieldhouse in Wisconsin Dells, WI. Bay will play Madison College on that Friday at 2:30 pm and Lake Michigan College the following evening at 5:30 pm.