NELSONVILLE, Ohio – Janiya McWilliams poured in a career-high 19 points and Asiyah Jihad recorded a double-double with 12 points and 15 rebounds to lead Macomb Women's Basketball past Hocking College by a 55-50 final on Saturday (Dec. 20) in Nelsonville, Ohio.
 
The road win lifted the Monarchs to 7-4 on the season and sent the host Hawks to 8-4 overall.
 
A consistent theme in victories this season, the Monarchs' defense was stingy throughout, holding the Hawks to 13-points-or-less in all four quarters while racking up 11 steals to push the team's total to 127 through 11 games played.
 
The Monarchs led by two after one quarter of play, 14-12, and began to take control behind a 17-point second quarter for a 31-25 halftime lead.
 
A 16-12 advantage in the third quarter led to a 10-point cushion, 47-37, entering the fourth and final frame. A cold stretch by the Monarchs allowed the Hawks to get to within one possession on two occasions, but the Blue & White made key plays in the waning minutes to secure the victory.
 
Despite a tight first quarter and a late Hawks run, the Monarchs never trailed in the hard-fought win against a likely playoff team out of the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC).
 
McWilliams' career-high 19 points paced the offense as the sophomore guard added seven rebounds and four steals as part of a balanced effort. Jihad's double-double of 12 points and 15 rebounds was her third of the season and 13^th in a Macomb uniform.
 
A'Liyah Forris checked in with nine points and a pair of assists and steals, MyKenzi Harris recorded seven points and corralled five rebounds and Vanessa Galovich returned to the lineup to net five points to go along with three rebounds and two assists. Hannah Tamou rounded out the scoring with three points, all coming from the charity stripe.
 
The Monarchs head to Montcalm Community College on Monday (Dec. 22) for a 2 p.m. tip-off against the Centurions.