MT. PLEASANT, Mich. – Macomb Women's Basketball played its second ranked team of the season, first from the NJCAA Division II ranks, and battled tough throughout in an 84-66 setback to the No.16 Lakers of Mid Michigan College on Friday (Dec. 8) in Mt. Pleasant. The loss shifts the Monarchs record to 3-3. The Lakers remained unbeaten at 9-0 with the win on their home floor.

Trailing 21-12 through one quarter and 45-27 at the break, the Monarchs refused to back down and went on to outscore the nation's 16^th ranked team, 22-21, in the third quarter to keep the pressure on the hosts. The fourth and final quarter would favor the Lakers, 18-17, as the teams played to an even second half.

Sydney Garon (Shelby Twp., Mich./Henry Ford II) led the Monarchs with a career-high 17 points. The freshman wing tallied a new career-best behind five 3-pointers and added three rebounds and two assists in 31 minutes of action. Marissa Thomas (Toledo, Ohio/Perrysburg) was next with 12 points, four steals, three assists and three rebounds and Olicia Porritt (Mt. Clemens, Mich./Mt. Clemens) rounded out three Monarchs in double digits scoring with a career-high 10 points on three 3-pointers.

Danielle Billinger (Detroit, Mich./Riverview Gabriel Richard) corralled a team-best seven rebounds in her first extended action of the season. The freshman also chipped in with six points in 17 minutes of work.

Tamia Tounsel (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) netted nine points, grabbed six rebounds and had four steals and Kamryn Richards (Grosse Pointe Park, Mich./Grosse Pointe South) dished out a game-high and new career-high nine assists.

The Monarchs head to Petoskey for a non-conference tilt with the Timberwolves of North Central Michigan College at 3 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 9). North Central Michigan will live stream the game here.