WARREN, Mich. – Macomb Women's Basketball opened the 2023-24 season with an impressive home victory over the Bruins of Kellogg Community College by a 72-62 final Tuesday (Nov. 7) at the Sports & Expo Center. Down one at the half and tied through three quarters of play, the Monarchs (1-0) outscored the Bruins 19-9 over the game's final 10 minutes to earn the victory.
The Monarchs got off to a strong start in the opener and led 22-14 at the end of the first quarter thanks to a 10-of-12 shooting effort from the free throw line. The Bruins (0-1) answered in the second quarter, outscoring the Monarchs by a 20-11 margin to take a narrow 34-33 lead into the halftime break.
After shooting 12 free throws (and making 10) in the first quarter, the Monarchs only went to the charity stripe for one shot in the second quarter and were held to 22% shooting as the Bruins worked their way back into the game.
A back-and-forth battle in the third quarter saw the Monarchs edge the Bruins, 20-19, to knot the game up at 53-53 entering the fourth and final quarter. In the fourth, the Monarchs' defense held the Bruins to only three field goals and nine points overall, while the offense poured in 19 points on 47% shooting to help earn the 10-point victory.
The strong defense, combined with a concerted effort to get to the basket, allowed the Monarchs to earn a 30-20 points in the paint advantage and a 14-6 edge in points off turnovers in the season-opening win.
Tamia Tounsel (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) was impressive throughout on both ends of the floor and ended the opener with a career-high 22 points to go along with a game-high-tying 11 rebounds and a pair of blocks. The 22-point, 11-rebound performance was Tounsel's fourth double-double at the collegiate level.
Newcomer
Marissa Thomas (Toledo, Ohio/Perrysburg) teamed up with Tounsel to lead the Monarchs and debuted in style with 21 points, seven rebounds and a game-high seven assists. Thomas and Tounsel combined to make 15-of-32 shots from the field and 13-of-17 of their attempts from the free throw line as part of an efficient all-around night.
Enddiea Reese (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) made key shots in the second half as part of a 10-point, eight-rebound stat line, while
Kamryn Richards (Grosse Pointe Park, Mich./Grosse Pointe South) checked in with nine points, six rebounds and two assists. Richards drained a team-best three triples for all nine of her points.
Hannah Roberts (Roseville, Mich./L'Anse Creuse) rounded out Tuesday's leaders with a game-high-tying 11 rebounds.
The Monarchs will return to action next week with back-to-back home games on Wednesday and Thursday. On Wednesday (Nov. 15), the Monarchs welcome Delta College to Warren for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off and will turn around one day later to host Madonna JV, also a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.
