HIGHLIGHTS

WARREN, Mich. – Macomb Women's Basketball used a strong second half effort to earn a 54-49 victory over the visiting Mott Community College Bears Wednesday (Feb. 15). The win gave the Monarchs the season sweep over the Bears and extended the Blue & White's winning streak to eight games over their conference counterpart from Flint.

In addition to the winning streak and season sweep, the victory also clinched the Monarchs' spot in the upcoming NJCAA Great Lakes District Championships played March 7, 9-12. The March 7 first round games are reserved for the second through fifth seeds (first seed gets a bye). The winners of the March 7 contests will move on to Mott Community College for the final rounds of the tournament March 9-12. 

The Monarchs improved to 16-6 overall and 6-4 in the MCCAA East with the five-point win and sent the Bears to 10-15 overall and 2-8 in league play.

The Monarchs shot out to a 14-10 lead after one quarter of play but the Bears countered with a 19-point outburst in the second quarter to take a 29-26 lead at the half.

Second half action saw the Monarchs clamp down defensively, holding the Bears to a point per minute over the game's final 20 minutes to earn the 54-49 victory.

While the defense was turned up a notch in the latter half, the Monarchs were stingy throughout as the Bears shot 26.2% for the game (21.2% in the second half). The Monarchs earned a 20-13 edge in points off turnovers and an 18-12 advantage in point in the paint to help secure the victory.

Amy Jackson (Flat Rock, Mich./Flat Rock) led all scorers with a game-high 15 points on five 3-points, while the trio of Rayonna Armstrong (Toledo, OH/Notre Dame Academy), Valina Hudgins (Warren, Mich./Lincoln) and Tamia Tounsel (Shelby Twp., Mich./Dakota) each tallied eight points. Hudgins and Tounsel grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds each, while Armstrong and Hudgins dished out three assists apiece.

Jasmine Ellis (Hazel Park, Mich./Michigan Math & Science) recorded nine points and three rebounds and Kamryn Richards (Grosse Pointe Park, Mich./Grosse Pointe South) checked in with six points and team-best four assists.

The Monarchs remain home to host St. Clair County Community College Saturday (Feb. 18) at 1 p.m. The game will kick off the Monarchs annual "MCCAA Hunger Games" doubleheader. Fans will get in free with a canned food/non-perishable food item donation.