HIGHLIGHTS
WARREN, Mich. – A back and forth contest until the final buzzer, Macomb Women's Basketball won a 63-62 thriller over the visiting Bobcats of Bryant & Stratton Ohio Tuesday (Nov. 15) in Warren. The Bobcats had a chance to win it at the buzzer but their shot from within the paint rimmed out to give the Monarchs the hard-fought victory.
The win lifted the Monarchs to 4-1 on the young season. After their last second effort didn't fall, the Bobcats left Warren 0-2 on the season.
After a slow start resulted in an 18-8 hole through 10 minutes of play, the Monarchs came out strong in the second quarter and outscored the Bobcats by a decisive 20-4 margin to take a 28-22 lead into the half.
Amy Jackson (Flat Rock, Mich./Flat Rock) tallied all 11 of her points in the first half to help give the Monarchs the two-possession lead at the break.
Defensively, the Monarchs held the Bobcats to 1-of-12 shooting (8.3%) in the second quarter to earn the 20-4 edge in the period.
In the second half, the Monarchs led by as many as nine early in the fourth quarter before the Bobcats raced back to get to within one with nine seconds remaining. The Monarchs were able to hang on as the Bobcats final attempt didn't fall in the thrilling one-point decision.
The Monarchs crashed the boards early and often on their way to out-rebounding the Bobcats by a 54-35 margin. The large differential led to a 19-2 edge in second chance points. Depth also played a key role in the hard-fought victory as the Monarchs bench outscored the Bobcats, 37-8.
Tamia Tounsel (Shelby Twp., Mich./Dakota) corralled a game-high and career-high 16 rebounds and added nine points, two assists and two steals, while
Jaelynn Jones (Sterling Heights, Mich./Stevenson) posted a career-best of her own with a team-high 13 points to go along with eight rebounds and three assists.
Ryleigh Sanom (Berkley, Mich./Berkley) and
Jasmine Ellis (Hazel Park, Mich./Michigan Math & Science) followed with nine points each, while
Valina Hudgins (Warren, Mich./Lincoln) continued her balanced play with eight boards and six points in 31 minutes of action. Sanom also dished out a game-high five assists and added a pair of steals in 24 minutes of work Tuesday evening.
Rylee Thomas (Harrison Twp., Mich./L'Anse Creuse) connected on two of the Monarchs' six triples for six points in the win.
The Monarchs return to the hardwood next Tuesday (Nov. 22) when they host Glen Oaks Community College at 5:30 p.m.
