The GCC Samsons Women's Basketball Team used a strong 4th quarter effort that featured back-to-back-to-back 3-point shots in the final minutes to secure a tough road victory vs. Bay de Noc Community College on Friday in Escanaba as part of the Bay College Winter Classic.
Due to inclement weather, the Samsons were unable to play their originally scheduled opponent, the Cavaliers of Western Technical College. The Norse of Bay College were flexible with their schedule and the Samsons were able to play the Norse instead of the Cavaliers.
GCC's Emily Nelson made her presence known immediately as she scored inside for the first basket of the game. She then came down the court defensively and blocked Bay's Tianna Taylor's first shot attempt and then Nelson scored inside again on the next possession for the Samsons. The Norse had some trouble scoring to start the game, and after a nice bucket inside from GCC's Kylee Hewitt, the Samsons were up 9-3 with four and a half minutes to go in the first quarter. The Norse then fired back with solid play on both sides of the ball and Alyssa Cretton's basket with 45 seconds to go tied the game at 13. GCC's Jasmine Redhouse picked up her second personal foul with 2.6 seconds left. This sent Bay's Taylor to the line where she hit both free throws and gave the Norse their first lead of the game, 15-13.
The Norse didn't maintain their lead as the second quarter began, they expanded it. Including their positive momentum that started at the end of the first quarter, the Norse went on a 23-8 run that ultimately gave the them their largest lead of 9 points with 5:56 left in the second quarter. Bay's good ball movement and high 3-point shooting percentage had the Samsons scrambling defensively. The Norse shot 55.6% from beyond the arc in the first half and went into halftime up 33-27 on the Samsons.
Hewitt ignited the Samson's offense to start the third quarter as she scored in the paint and then hit a 3-pointer on GCC's next possesion, bringing the Samsons within one point of the Norse. The scored stayed close and with 2:13 left in the quarter, GCC finally took back the lead as Nelson hit a pair for free throws that put the Samsons up by one, 40-39. This was the first lead for the Samsons since they lead 13-11 in the first quarter. Hewitt fed Nelson inside on the next possesion, but the Norse stormed back to tie the game with less than a minute to go. After an empty possession for the Samsons, a late foul on Nicole DiGiorgio put Bay's Emma Rutter at the line for two shots. Rutter nailed them both and the Norse finished the third quarter up by two, 44-42.
The fourth quarter continued to stay close and with 4:05 to go, GCC's Ida Bengtsson drew the fifth foul on Bay's top post player, Tianna Taylor. Bengtsson hit both free throws to tie the game at 50. Despite losing Taylor for the remainder of the game, the Norse went on another run and went up on the Samsons 57-52 with 1:19 remaining, making it a two possession lead for Bay. Although GCC's Redhouse played reduced minutes due to early foul trouble, she confidently hit the only 3-pointer she attempted with 1:09 left to get the Samsons within two. GCC forced a Bay turnover on the next possesion and this time it was Bengtsson who hit a 3-pointer for the Samsons to put GCC up 58-57 with 38 seconds left. Hewitt committed her third personal foul on the next play which put Cretton at the line for Bay. Cretton split the pair and with 29.4 left, the score was tied again at 58. Next it was GCC's Hanna Hoskin who hit the third consecutive 3-pointer for the Samsons, putting them up 61-58 with 18.9 seconds left. The Norse did not convert on their next possesion and they were forced to foul. Bengtsson hit her two free throws and the Samsons came away with an exciting 63-58 victory.
The 10-0 Samsons were led by Nelson who had 20 points, 6 rebounds, 5 blocks and 3 assists. Bengtsson added 15 points and 9 rebounds. Hewitt finished with 12 points and 9 rebounds and Hoskin chipped in with 11 points.
GCC will face Oakland Community College on Saturday before heading into the holiday break.
