The GCC Samsons fell on the road as they faced the Wolfpack of Madison College on Thursday, 1/26. Despite the 60-56 loss which now brings the GCC record to 13-4, the matchup was an exciting one that featured 6 ties, 7 lead changes, and neither team led by more than 7 points.
Both teams took some time to get their offenses going as GCC struggled with turnovers and the Wolfpack couldn't get their shots to fall. Nicole DiGiorgio helped the Samsons to get on the scoreboard first as she stole the ball and then fed Emily Nelson inside for a layup with 7:36 left in the first quarter. The entire first quarter kept going back and forth with both teams possessing the lead at some point. Jasmine Redhouse fed Nelson for a short jump shot with just over one minute to go in the quarter. The Samsons got a stop on the next defensive possession and finished the quarter up by 2, 12-10. The Samsons committed 8 of their 16 first half turnovers, while the Wolfpack shot only 14.3% from the field in the quarter.
The Samsons threw the first offensive punch of the second quarter as Ida Bengtsson hit a 3-pointer right away. Although the Wolfpack scored inside on their next possession, GCC scored on next two possessions as Bengtsson scored as she attacked the basket and Kylee Hewitt also scored inside. This gave GCC its largest lead of the game, 19-12 with 7:47 to go in the quarter. The Wolfpack started to hit shots more consistently as their second quarter shooting percentage increased to 33.3%. Near the end of the quarter, Madison College hit back-to-back-to back 3-pointers. This nine-point swing gave the Wolfpack the lead (24-21) with 1:06 to go. GCC was able to answer as Nelson fed Bengtsson for a quick bucket and the Wolfpack led 24-23 as the second quarter came to a close.
Both teams traded baskets to begin the third quarter, but with 6:51 to go, Hewitt committed her 3rd personal foul and was forced to the bench. The Wolfpack missed both free throws but held a 3-point lead, 28-25. GCC responded with a huge 10-0 run giving the Samsons a 35-28 lead with 4:17 left. Madison College cut into the GCC lead as the quarter came to end, but the Samsons still held a 3-point lead (41-38) going into the final quarter.
The Wolfpack chipped away again at the GCC lead and with a nice move inside by Taylor Ripp, Madison College regained the lead 44-43 with 7:48 to go. More GCC turnovers helped the Wolfpack grow their lead to 49-43 with less than six minutes left in the quarter. The Samsons fought back yet again and Bengtsson hit 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions and GCC tied the game again at 49 with 4:17 left. After a Wolfpack bucket and two free throws from Nelson, the score was knotted up again at 51. Bengtsson then picked up her third personal foul with 2:51 left and Madison College's Jordanna Davis went to the free throw line. Although she split the pair, the Wolfpack would not relinquish their lead this time and Madison College was able to sneak out a 60-56 victory over the Samsons.
Ripp and Davis led the Wolfpack with 15 points and 12 points, respectively. Bengtsson led the Samsons with 19 points and 7 rebounds. Redhouse chipped in 10 points and 3 assists.
