ESCANABA, MI – The Norse Women's Basketball Team (2-0) opened the season by hosting the Terrace Bay Hotel Tip-Off Classic and came away with a pair of wins on the weekend. After a decisive 107-29 victory over Lorain County Community College (1-1) on Friday evening, the Norse upended the #12 ranked Rock Valley College (1-1) in a thrilling 67-65 finish on Saturday afternoon.
On Friday evening the Norse used their high pace of play combined with full court pressure to take control from the very start. Bay was credited with 23 steals and created 44 turnovers. Furthermore the Commodores shot just 18.8% from the field and missed on all 15 three-point attempts. The Norse outrebounded Lorain County 48-33 including 21 offensive rebounds for Bay. The Norse shot 44.3% from the field, but had 88 attempts, while Lorain County only shot the ball 48 times.
Bay had five players finish in double-digits in scoring and had 12 of the 13 players that entered the game hit a field goal. Nina Bower (RS-FR, Bark River, MI) led the way with 15 points and had six rebound. Mckenzie Hoffmeyer (SO, Bark River, MI) picked up 12 points, four rebounds, five assists, and five steals. Addison Cullen (FR, St. Ignace, MI) had 12 points and four rebounds off the bench. Lauren Zawada (SO, Bark River, MI) finished with ten points and seven rebounds while Aubree Blackburn (FR, Marquette, MI) ended with ten points.
Abby Shmitz (SO, Amherst, OH) had six points and seven rebounds for the Commodores. Michelle Echeverria (SO, Ponce, Puerto Rico) finished with six points and six rebounds.
On Saturday afternoon the #12 ranked Rock Valley Golden Eagles in what turned out to be a fantastic matchup. The game featured 15 ties and 15 lead changes and neither team held a lead of more than eight points throughout.
Rock Valley grabbed their biggest lead of the game right off the bat as the Norse offense was slow to start and the Golden Eagles jumped out to a 6-1 lead. Bay wasted no time tying the game and wound up with a 10-9 lead after one period of play.
The teams traded the lead in the second quarter, but RVC tied it with a free throw with three seconds left. The Norse got the ball up the court quickly and Hoffmeyer made it pay off as she buried a three as the buzzer rang out, giving the Norse a 29-26 lead at intermission.
Bay used that momentum to get things going in the third. They were able to stretch their lead to six, but could not pull away. With the Norse leading 38-32, Rock Valley went on a run to reclaim control of the matchup. A 14-3 stretch put the Golden Eagles up three in the late stages of the third period and they would hold a 50-49 lead going into the final ten minutes.
With time winding down the teams exchanged baskets late. The Norse tied it at 65 with just over 30 seconds to play. Rock Valley missed on opportunity in the next possession but were able to get an offensive rebound and draw the foul. They would miss from the free throw line on both opportunities and Bay would rebound and get a timeout that allowed them to move the ball up the court with ten seconds left. Bay would run a play from the sideline that found Hoffmeyer streaking down the opposite lane line and a perfectly placed pass from Bower set her up for an easy layup and the lead. Rock Valley's last gasp came at the free throw line on the last possession, and they once again missed both opportunities, sealing the upset victory for Bay College.
Rock Valley not only left crucial points at the charity stripe at the end of the game, but free throw issues haunted them throughout as they would go nine of 23 on free throws. The Golden Eagles ended up just two of 17 from behind three point after going 19 of 59 the day before in a runaway victory over Alpena.
Zawada ended with a double-double in the contest, picking up 18 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Norse. Makenna Hendrickson (SO, Baraga, MI) had 17 points and nine rebounds, while Hoffmeyer finished with 14 points and five assists.
The Golden Eagles were led by Amadea Montijo (SO, Hanover Park, IL) who had 18 points and five rebounds. Jazelle Young (SO, Chicago, IL) was credited with 14 points and seven rebounds, while DeNiya Gary (FR, Rockford, IL) had 13 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and four steals.
The Norse have a short break before hosting their U.P. rival Gogebic Community College on Wednesday, November 12. That game is scheduled for a 5:30 pm tip.
Photo courtesy of Scotty Bartley