The Samsons comeback effort fell just short as GCC lost to the Norse of Bay College, 55 to 49 on day two of the Terrace Bay Hotel Holiday Classic.
The Norse started out hot and quickly took a 7-2 lead, which forced the Samsons to call an early timeout. GCC responded and hit back-to-back buckets. First, Freshman Kate Borseth drilled a 3-pointer, then fellow Freshman Annabelle Besonen scored, tying the score with 5:23 to go in the quarter. Jada Freudinger scored on the next two possessions for the Norse, giving them a four-point lead. After a shot clock violation on the next possession for Bay College, Borseth responded with back-to-back buckets of her own, tying the score again as things were knotted up at 11-11 after the first quarter. After some defensive lapses and untimely turnovers committed by GCC, the Norse took control in the second quarter and outscored the Samsons 19-10, as they led 30-21 heading into halftime.
Bay scored in the paint as the third quarter began, but the Samsons then scored 8 straight points of their own. Borseth was fouled and split her pair of free throws, Sophomore Hanna Hoskin scored on a nifty drive to the rim, then Sophomore Kylee Hewitt drilled a short jumper in the paint. The run was capped off with a tough basked inside from Borseth who was also fouled on the shot. She drilled the free throw for three points the hard way. This run brought the Samsons within three points, 32-29 with 4:41 to go. Freudinger and Borseth traded baskets on the next two possessions, then Borseth committed a foul which got the Norse to the line where they split the pair. After a strong basket inside from Hewitt with 2:03 to go, the Samsons only trailed by two, 35-33. The Norse grabbed back the momentum and went on a 7-1 run to finish the quarter as they led 42-34.
The fourth quarter started and Hoskin caught fire from 3-point range. She drilled back-to-back shots from behind the arc and GCC only trailed 42-40. The Norse responded with a 3-pointer of their own, but Hoskin hit yet another 3-pointer, but the Samsons still were behind 2, 45-43. Bay College responded yet again by scoring 5 straight points and extended their lead to 50-43 with 3:33 left to play, but Hoskin wasn't done yet as she nailed her fourth 3-pointer of the quarter with just over two minutes to go. The Norse scored on their next possession, but the Samsons answered yet again. Borseth drilled a 3-pointer with 57 seconds remaining, making it just a one possession game as the Samsons trailed 52-49. Unfortunately, that is as close as GCC would get. After a costly turnover, the Samsons were forced to foul and the Norse came away with the 55-49 win.
Kate Borseth led all scorers with a career high 22 points. Hanna Hoskin chipped in 14 points and 7 rebounds, and Kylee Hewitt finished with 6 points and 6 rebounds for the Samsons.
The Samsons have a brief holiday break and will return to action on December 29th and 30th as they head to Wisconsin Dells for another weekend tournament.
