ESCANABA, MI – The Bay College Women's Basketball Team (19-9, 12-2 MCCAA) knocked off the #11 ranked Mid Michigan Lakers (24-4, 12-2 MCCAA) in the final game of the regular season, earning them a share of the MCCAA Northern Conference Title on Tuesday night. Bay took down the Lakers by a final score of 71-64.
The Norse took control from the start, baffling the Lakers offense. It took over seven minutes of gameplay before Mid Michigan scored from the field, and at that point Bay had a 13-3 lead. Mid, who averages 95.5 points per game, scored just six points in the first quarter. The home team led 19-6 after ten minutes of play.
The Lakers were able to fight back in the second, closing the Bay lead to five points at the midway point. Anna Axtell (FR, Menominee, MI) finished at the rim on the following position, and then was fouled and split a pair of free throws on the following possession. Anisa Longs (FR, Minneapolis, MN) connected on a long jumper a few possessions later, and Bay reclaimed their double-digit lead. Bay led by ten heading into halftime.
Axtell led off the second half with a three-pointer, Kennedy Sproule (SO, Niverville, MB) made a pair of free throws, and Axtell made a pair of jumpers, and the Norse built their biggest lead of the game to start the second half, putting themselves up 17 points.
In what was a major turning point of the game, Mid Michigan made a stand. A 14-2 run by the Lakers cut the lead to five. Chloe Watson (SO, Hemlock, MI) was the catalyst during that run, drilling three three-pointers, a jump shot, and two free throws, totaling 13 points in just under two minutes of gameplay.
The Norse showed resiliency in the moment and stopped the Laker rally. Lauren Zawada (FR, Bark River, MI) had six points in the final three minutes of the third quarter, helping build the Norse lead to 50-37 heading into the final period.
Bay continued control the game into the fourth, leading by 15 with eight minutes to play. Mid Michigan was able to get their deficit down to single-digits, but Bay had an answer for every Laker run. The closest Mid would get down the stretch is six points and Bay handed the Lakers their second loss in the last three games with the seven-point victory.
The Norse never trailed in the contest.
Axtell led all scorers with 23 points. She also grabbed eight rebounds and had three steals and two assists. Sproule added 16 points and four assists, while Zawada ended up with 12 points, five rebounds, and seven steals. Mckenzie Hoffmeyer (FR, Bark River, MI) finished with ten points and six rebounds.
Watson led the Lakers with 20 points and nine rebounds. Paige Ebels (SO, McBain, MI) added 12 points, while Rachel Resio (SO, Saginaw, MI) finished with ten points.
The win created a three-way tie for first place atop the MCCAA Northern Conference Standings. Tie breakers send Mid Michigan on to the MCCAA Championship at Lansing Community College on February 28 and March 1.
The Norse are the three seed coming out of the North for the Region 12 Great Lakes District B Tournament. They have earned the right to host the North's four seed, Delta College, on Tuesday March 4 at 5:30 pm in a Quarterfinal matchup.
Bay College swept the regular season series against Delta. On January 25 the Norse won 87-46 on the road. They then defeated the Pioneers 81-60 on their home floor on February 22. Ticket information for the game on March 4 will be released as soon as it is made available.