The GCC Samsons topped the Norse from Minnesota-North Mesabi Range 67-56 on Wednesday, February 7th on the campus of GCC. After beating the Norse on January 10th at Mesabi, the Samsons completed the season sweep of the Norse. The Samsons also had significant contributions from all 7 active players in this contest.
Behind three 3-pointers in the first quarter, GCC raced out to a 14-7 first quarter lead. Sophomore Hanna Hoskin drilled two 3-pointers and Freshman Annabelle Besonen drilled the other. Fellow Freshman Emmy Bobula continued the 3-point trend as she hit another for the Samsons to start the 2nd quarter and GCC quickly went ahead 17-7. GCC continued to roll offensively behind a bucket inside from Freshman Vanessa Weber and a 3-pointer from fellow Freshman Kate Borseth. The Samsons took a 12-point lead, 22-10, with 6:10 left in the quarter. This was GCC’s largest lead of the first half. Fouls began to build up for the Samsons, which allowed the Norse to stay close by getting to the free throw line. Mesabi closed the GCC lead to six, and the Samsons went into halftime leading 26-20.
GCC came out firing as Borseth found Sophomore Kylee Hewitt inside. Hewit made the basket, her first points of the game, and was fouled but missed the free throw. After a quick Norse basket, Borseth countered with a 3-point play of her own as she got fouled and made the basket and the free throw, putting the Samsons up 31-22 with 8:55 left in the third. On the next possession, Hewitt picked up her third personal foul. Despite picking up her third foul, Hewitt stayed on the court and led the GCC charge as the Samsons went on a run to extend their lead to 43-30, with 3:54 remaining. This 13-point led would be the largest of the second half for GCC. Hewitt picked up her fourth personal foul on the next defensive possession for the Samsons and she was forced to sit with 3:16 to go. This gave Mesabi some life and they went on a small run to end the third quarter and only trailed 49-40 heading into the final quarter.
Hewitt started the final quarter and scored immediately off a pretty pick & roll. The Norse quickly matched that bucket, but Freshman Kadence Beeksma drilled a 3-pointer on the next Samson possession. After allowing back-to-back Norse baskets, GCC led 54-46 with 7:44 to go. Hewitt was fouled on the next play, which was the fifth personal foul on Mesabi’s Deetra Davis. Kylee missed the free throws, but made up for it by immediately scoring inside on the next GCC possession. Just for good measure, Hewitt scored again on the next GCC play and this time she showed off her range by drilling a 3-pointer. This put the Samsons up 59-46 with 5:14 left. Although the Norse did cut the Samson lead to 63-56, they were forced to foul and Hewitt and Hoskin both drilled their shots from the charity stripe. GCC came away with a 67-56 victory.
Hewitt, who was held scoreless in the first half, finished with 22 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. Hoskin chipped with 11 points and 6 rebounds. Borseth added 11 points, 10 assists and 5 rebounds. Freshman Vanessa Weber and Emmy Bobula both had 10 rebounds. Weber also added 4 points and Bobula scored 6 points. Besonen scored 8 points and had 3 rebounds, while Beeksma had 5 points and 4 rebounds.
The Samsons are at home for their next contest on Saturday, February 10th as they host Central Lakes College-Brainerd at 1 pm.
