IRONWOOD, MICH. - It was a statement win for the Madison College women's basketball team as it reached the mid-point of the season with a two week break coming up. Playing in the Gogebic Community College Classic over the weekend, the #5 WolfPack opened play with an impressive win over top-ranked Northland (MN) Community & Technical College, 71-63, to improve to 2-1 on the season against team's ranked in the NJCAA Division III Poll. Unfortunately, Madison College was unable to follow it up, dropping a 77-69 decision to the host Samsons (NJCAA DII). The split weekend means the WolfPack will take a 10-3 record into the semester break.

Game #1: #5 Madison College 71, #1 Northland (MN) CTC 63

Trailing by four with 5:40 to play in the second quarter after a Northland (8-2) three-pointer, Madison College closed the half on a 16-5 run to seize a 35-28 halftime lead against the No. 1 team in the country. Momentum stayed with the WolfPack in the third as they began came out of the locker room and blitzed the Pioneers with a 9-0 surge to build a game-high 17 point advantage. Northland cut their deficit to just three on two occasions in the fourth quarter, however, Madison College hit three of their last six shots and went 6-for-9 at the free throw line over the last five minutes to secure the win.

The WolfPack were better than the Pioneers in nearly every statistical category: points off turnovers (15-9), second chance points (15-11), points in the paint (38-24), rebounds (46-44), and turnovers (15-22).

Sophomore Rachel Slaney secured her sixth double-double of the season with a game-high 23 points and 14 rebounds. She also led the WolfPack with four assists and a block. The All-American made 10-of-14 attempts at the free throw line, marking the sixth time she's reached ten or more in both makes and attempts in a game this season.

Freshman Megan Corcoran was the only other player to reach double figures with 20 points, 14 of which came in the second half. Corcoran was 7-for-12 overall with two 3-pointers and converted 4-for-6 free throws. She also had six rebounds and three steals. Fellow first year Peyton Trapino had five steals and two assists to go along with eight points.

Madison College is now 2-0 all-time against Northland (MN) CTC with 21 years separating the two wins in the upper peninsula.

Game #2: Gogebic Community College 77, #5 Madison College 69

Saturday's affair saw neither team lead by more than seven with six lead changes through the game's first 20 minutes, but a cold third quarter proved costly for the WolfPack. After making three of their first five shot attempts to pull within three points, Madison College missed their next seven field goal tries and finished 5-for-19 overall in the quarter. Gogebic (8-6) outscored the visitors 21-12 to assume a 59-45 edge that they never relinquished. 

The WolfPack shot 31% (26-84) for the game, including 7-for-21 from long distance, and knocked down just ten of their 20 free throw attempts. Madison College also surrendered a 38-24 disadvantage in points in the paint.

For the third straight game and tenth time this season, Rachel Slaney led the way with 25 points on 10-of-22 shooting. The former Barneveld (WI) HS athlete also grabbed 17 rebounds for her third consecutive - and fifth in the last six games - double-double. Slaney also had two blocks as the WolfPack lost for the 16th time in 44 all-time meetings.

Megan Corcoran tallied her fourth consecutive game with at least 20 points, finishing with 22 on 7-for-21 shooting with four 3-pointers. The Madison, Wisconsin, native has made multiple shots from long range in four straight games. She also had eight rebounds and a team-high four assists. 

Freshman Peyton Trapino matched Corcoran with four assists and had a team-best five steals.

Madison College will enjoy a two-week break from game action over the semester and holiday break, but will return in 2017 to begin North Central Community College Conference competition on Wednesday, January 4 at Triton College (7-8). The WolfPack is 13-2 all-time against the Trojans, though Triton did beat the 'Pack in the last meeting in 2016 to snap a 13-game win streak for Madison College. Tip off in River Grove is at 5:00 p.m.

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