In a highly contested game that was tied going into the final quarter, the GCC Samsons lost their first contest of the season 58-48 to the Norse of Bay College on Saturday afternoon at the Linquist Center on the campus of GCC.
The Samsons took control early, leading 5-0. The Norse didn't score their first point until they split a pair of free throws with 4:56 left in the first quarter. Bay College eventually found their offensive rhythm, but GCC maintained its consistency throughout the quarter and kept the lead, 12-9.
The Norse fired back to start the second quarter as they hit a 3-pointer and split a pair of free throws on their next possession to take their first lead of the game 13-12 with 7:10 remaining in the quarter. The Samsons responded, going on a 11-4 run that was fueled by Sophomore Kylee Hewitt who had 8 of the 11 points in the GCC run. After Hewitt split a pair from the charity stripe with 3:02 left before halftime, the Samsons were up 23-17. On the next possession for Bay College, GCC Freshman Kate Borseth picked up her second foul and was forced to sit the rest of the half. Bay then went on a 10-0 run and led 27-23 with just 9 seconds remaining. Hewitt hit a bucket inside for GCC with 2 seconds to go, which pulled the Samsons within 2 and the Norse led 27-25 at the half.
Hewitt found Freshman Vanessa Weber inside to start the third quarter as GCC tied things up at 27. On the next Norse possession, Borseth picked up her third fouled and was forced to the bench again. Bay College took the lead after hitting the foul shots, but the Samsons kept the game close. After a technical foul was called on the Norse bench with 2:47 left, Hewitt hit both shots and the Norse lead dwindled down to 1, as Bay led 35-34. After a defensive stop, Hewitt again scored as she hit an outside jumper, giving GCC the lead 36-35 with just over two minutes left. After a couple of strong defensive possessions, Samson Freshman Lilly Johnson committed a foul with just 12.2 second to go in the quarter. The Norse split the pair from the line and the score was knotted up at 36 heading into the final quarter.
Behind another two strong baskets from Hewitt, GCC stormed ahead in the final quarter and took the 40-36 lead with 8:14 remaining. Bay College immediately responded with back-to-back buckets and tied the score at 40 with 6:59 left. After calling a full timeout to regroup, the Norse went on a 10-0 run. They lead 50-40 with 4:14 to go. Weber got GCC on the board again as she split a pair of free throws with 4:14 remaining. Borseth then hit back-to-back buckets of her own, which brought GCC within 5, 50-45 with just under three minutes to go, but that would be as close as the Samsons would get. Bay College then went on a 8-0 run. Freshman Kadence Beeksma hit a triple in the final minute as the Samsons fell 58-48 to the Norse.
Kylee Hewitt led all scorers with 24 points. Vanessa Weber added 9 points and 10 rebounds for GCC, while Kate Borseth chipped in 6 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists.
Siena Lingle led Bay College with 22 points, while Kennedy Sproule chipped in 11 points.
