BENTON HARBOR, Mich. – Another day, another hard-fought victory for head coach Jay Ritchie and the Macomb Women's Basketball team! In a game that featured nine ties and five lead changes, the Monarchs once again made winning plays down the stretch to take home a 59-56 victory over the host Lake Michigan College Red Hawks on Saturday (Nov. 5) in Benton Harbor.

The win elevates the Monarchs record to 3-0. The Red Hawks dropped their first game of the season in the home setback and moved to 2-1 on the young season.

After a slow start, the Monarchs recovered to outscore the Red Hawks 17-8 in the second quarter to take a 28-22 lead into the locker room at the half. The 17-8 second quarter was a product of stellar defense as the Monarchs held the hosts to 17.6% shooting and only three field goals over the 10-minute frame.

The Red Hawks went on a run of their own to begin second half action and outscored the Monarchs 18-10 in the third quarter to regain the lead, 40-38, entering the fourth and final quarter. Despite the Red Hawks surge, the Monarchs were able to retake the lead and eventually seal the game down the stretch by making critical, winning plays and sinking clutch free throws in the waning minutes of Saturday's contest.

For the game, the Monarchs bested the Red Hawks in points in the paint (30-18), points off turnovers (27-16), fast break points (18-4) and second chance points (12-9).

Balance was once again the key as Valina Hudgins (Warren, Mich./Lincoln) led three Monarchs in double figures scoring with a career-high-tying 19 points on 5-of-11 shooting and a 9-of-10 effort from the charity stripe. Hudgins added nine rebounds to lead the Monarchs on the glass as well.

Amy Jackson (Flat Rock, Mich./Flat Rock) was next with 13 points to accompany six rebounds and a game-high six steals, while Tamia Tounsel (Shelby Twp., Mich./Dakota) accounted for 12 points and eight rebounds in what was her best game statistically in a Monarch uniform.

Kamryn Richards (Grosse Pointe Park, Mich./Grosse Pointe South) continued to stuff the stat sheet in her young college career with eight points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals in Saturday's win.

The Monarchs return to action on their home floor Tuesday (Nov. 8) for a special 7:30 p.m. start time against Adrian College JV. A men's basketball game will take place beforehand at 5:30 p.m. Both games will be streamed live on MacombMonarchs.com/Watch.