WARREN, Mich. – Macomb Women's Basketball put their resiliency on display once again in a thrilling 59-54 comeback win over Mott Community College on Saturday (Jan. 20) at the Sports & Expo Center. Trailing by as many as 14 points early, the Monarchs never quit and chipped away at the deficit until earning their first lead since 2-0 with 1:17 remaining on the fourth quarter clock in the hard-fought victory.

The key to the game was a massive fourth quarter that saw the Monarchs outscore the Bears 22-10 in the frame.

The win lifts the Monarchs to 10-5 overall and 1-1 in the MCCAA Eastern Conference. The visiting Bears fell to 3-8 overall and 0-3 in conference play.

Down 14-2 early, the Monarchs battled back and ended the opening quarter on a 6-2 burst to get the deficit back to within single digits, 16-8, at the end of 10 minutes of play. The Monarchs won the second quarter battle, 15-14, to cut the Bears lead down to seven at the break, 30-23.

After the teams played to an even third quarter, the Monarchs entered the final 10 minutes of play trailing 44-37 and were searching for an answer offensively on a tough shooting afternoon. A Kamryn Richards (Grosse Pointe Park, Mich./Grosse Pointe South) 3-pointer and back-to-back baskets by Hannah Roberts (Roseville, Mich./L'Anse Creuse) would help the Monarchs keep pace as the Bears held a narrow 50-46 edge with 4:23 remaining.  

After Richards and Roberts kept the Monarchs within striking distance, Sydney Garon (Shelby Twp., Mich./Henry Ford II) stepped up in a big way with a pair of timely 3-pointers to tie the game, 52-52, with 3:08 remaining. The Monarchs would take their first lead since the opening basket of the game when a Marissa Thomas (Toledo, Ohio/Perrysburg) free throw put the Blue & White in front, 53-52, with 1:17 showing on the fourth quarter clock.

A basket by the Bears put the visitors back in front, 54-53, with 1:08 remaining, but the Monarchs were able to earn the 59-54 victory thanks to a key offensive rebound by Roberts and clutch free throws made by the trio of Carissa Hankins (Farmington, Mich./Farmington), Richards and Thomas. The strong play down the stretch resulted in the Monarchs outscoring the Bears by a 22-10 margin in the fourth quarter.

Richards paced the Monarchs with 14 points and added four assists and three rebounds, while Roberts recorded her second double-double in as many games with 12 points and 10 rebounds to go along with two blocks. Thomas rounded out Saturday's leaders with 11 points, eight assists and three rebounds.

The Monarchs host St. Clair County Community College (SC4) Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. SC4 is currently receiving votes in the NJCAA Division II Poll and will head to Warren with a 15-2 record overall and a 2-1 mark in conference play.