Rachel Slaney
Kirk Lawler
46
Joliet Junior College Wolves JJC
56
Winner Madison College WolfPack Pack
Joliet Junior College Wolves JJC
46
Final
56
Madison College WolfPack Pack
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Joliet Junior College Wolves JJC 7 6 16 17 46
Madison College WolfPack Pack 4 17 15 20 56

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

#5 WolfPack snap losing streak in home win

Slaney, Endres combine for 36 of team's 56 points

MADISON, WISC. - After the season's first back-to-back losses, the Madison College women's basketball team earned a much needed win Wednesday, taking down Joliet Junior College 56-46 at Redsten Gym. The win came with the WolfPack still ranked #1 in the NJCAA Division III polls; however, Thursday's release of the latest rankings saw Jessica Pelzel's team slip four spots to #5.

Forward Rachel Slaney regained her dominating form after battling illness the past two weeks - the freshman even sat out last Wednesday's road loss at Triton - and posted her team-leading eighth double-double of the season. Her 19 points and 16 rebounds were tops in the game, with the total on the glass setting a new career-high for the Barneveld, Wisconsin, native. Slaney did struggle from the floor, converting just 2-of-9 attempts, but dominated at the free throw line with a 15-for-17 effort. To round out her statline, Slaney added team-high marks with six assists and four steals.

Sophomore Jenna Endres did her part to keep the WolfPack alone in second place in the North Central Community College Conference standings with 17 points on 6-of-16 shooting with three makes from outside the arc. It's the shooting guard's 19th game this season with at least three 3-pointers made, as well as her 26th game scoring in double figures. Endres and Slaney combined for 64% of the team's scoring output with 36 of the team's 56 points.

The game started slow with the two teams combining for just 11 points in the first quarter and Joliet Junior College (14-12, 5-6) owning a 7-4 advantage. Madison College (24-3, 8-3), which shot 1-for-15 and committed seven turnovers in the first ten minutes, found some rhythm in the second quarter by going on an 11-0 run to lead by eight at the break. The WolfPack finished the half shooting 19% overall with six makes in 31 attempts and a 1-for-7 mark from distance.

With the start of the second half came a much more competitive game. The Wolves took a one-point lead briefly in the third quarter, then Madison College answered with an 11-3 burst heading into the fourth. Again the WolfPack finished strong, scoring 14 of the last 20 points after the Wolves clawed to within a basket with 4:36 to play. The improved offensive production in the final 20 minutes brought the 'Pack shooting average up to nearly 31% for the game. The home team controlled the glass by a 47-38 margin. They also set a season-high with 25 turnovers.

Wednesday also marked the fifth full game that All-America guard Taylor Nelson did not play. The sophomore continues to be plagued by a knee injury sustained against Milwaukee Area Technical College on January 20.

Nelson and seven other second-year players will be honored Saturday when Madison College closes out its regular season schedule against Harper College (4-22, 0-11). The WolfPack have won nine straight against the Hawks after last month's 69-34 beat down in Palatine, Illinois. Madison College is 6-1 at home against Harper and have not lost in the capital city since February 12, 2011. Tip off at Redsten Gym is set for 1:00 p.m. with the eight-member sophomore class to be honored prior to the announcement of the starting lineups.
 
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