MADISON, WISC. - The start to Saturday's doubleheader opener at H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium was delayed due to the late arrival of Columbus State (OH) Community College, but once the ball went up, the Madison College women's basketball team was ready for business in an 83-79 win. The #9 WolfPack led nearly the entire game against the NJCAA Division II Cougars, and tallied their highest point total of the young season to earn their second consecutive victory.

Madison College trailed just twice in the game, with the first coming 90 seconds into the game and with the score at 3-2. The rest of the first quarter saw the 'Pack build a double-digit lead, taking a 24-12 advantage into the second quarter on a Danee Collier basket just ahead of the buzzer. The second quarter opened with a 9-0 run for the home team to grab their largest lead of the day at 33-12 with 7:31 remaining, however, the Cougars closed the half with a 19-5 kick that brought the game within seven at the break. Late in the third quarter, CSCC again put together a run, this time scoring eight straight points to completely erase a seven-point differential going into the fourth quarter. But the WolfPack had all the answers and rattled off a dozen consecutive points to re-assume a double-digit lead on Jessica Kosharek's three-pointer with 6:36 to play. Columbus State (5-2) did trim the deficit to a single point in the final three minutes, and again to two in the last 15 seconds before two clutch free throws from freshman Caitlyn Gilbertson put the game out of reach.

The WolfPack enjoyed a 17-9 edge in second chance points, a 34-28 margin in points in the paint, and a 24-12 outscoring of the Cougars bench. Shooting-wise, Madison College enjoyed its best effort of the season. It's 47.5% overall and 72.7% from outside the arc are tops for the year, as are the 29 made field goals and the eight converted three-pointers. The home team did struggle at the free throw line with 17 makes on 32 attempts.

Four players scored in double-figures, led by sophomore Megan Corcoran's 25 points, highlighted by a career-best 6-for-9 on three-pointers. The Madison, Wisconsin, native now has five games of 20 or more points already this season, increasing her per game scoring to 23.3. Freshman forward Caitlyn Gilbertson knocked down 7-of-13 shots to tie a season-high with 16 points. The former Belmont HS athlete has reached double-digits in five consecutive games. Second year point guard Peyton Trapino registered her second consecutive double-double with 15 points and a career-high 11 assists. Trapino, a native of DeForest, Wisconsin, led the effort at the charity stripe, going 6-for-12. And freshman guard Danee Collier posted 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds, five of which came on the offensive glass.



The win is the second all-time victory against the Cougars, with the other coming in team's only prior meeting in 2005. After opening the season with a pair of home losses, Saturday's 'W' marks the first on the home floor of the season.

Up Next: 

Madison College (3-3), now .500 for the first time all season, will travel to NJCAA DIII Rochester (MN) Community & Technical College (2-0) on Tuesday, November 21. Despite a two-point loss at home to the Yellowjackets last year, the WolfPack are 21-8 all-time against RCTC, including wins in five of the last seven meetings. The head-to-head series dates back to 1987. Tip off in Rochester, Minnesota, is at 5:30 p.m.

The game will be streamed live at MadisonCollege.TV, as well as via the Madison College Athletics Facebook and YouTube pages.

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