MADISON, WISC. - A slow start put the Madison College women's basketball team in an early hole they unable to climb out of Wednesday in taking a 78-58 loss against NJCAA Division II McHenry County College to open the 2017-18 season in H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium. The WolfPack, ranked #9 in the NJCAA Division III Preseason Poll, trailed the entire game en route to their first season opening loss since the 2012-13 campaign, ending a run of four consecutive years with a win in the season's first outing.

McHenry County College (1-0) began the game with a 12-2 run that blossomed into a 31-13 lead after the first quarter. The WolfPack fought back in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 45-33 at the half thanks to a nine-point quarter from sophomore Megan Corcoran. After trailing by double-digits for the entirety of the second quarter, Madison College mounted one final push and put together a six-point run to cut the deficit to eight on two occasions, the last coming on a Corcoran jumper to make it 66-58 with five minutes remaining. However, the Scots scored the game's final 12 points to seal away the road victory and their first the in three-game all-time series.

Madison College's depth was limited as two players, returning all-conference and all-region point guard Peyton Trapino and newcomer Brandie Gospodarek, were unable to play do to their involvement with the Madison College women's soccer team that qualified for the NJCAA Division III National Championships next week. A couple other players were out also out due to injury, leaving head coach Lois Heeren and the WolfPack with six total players. They finished the game with just three as a result of foul trouble.

Corcoran, who just rejoined the team after completing the fall season this past weekend as a member of the Madison College volleyball team, finished with game-high 22 points, one-shy of her career-high of 23 from last season. The 5'10" guard/forward from Madison, Wisconsin, hit 7-of-24 shots overall, but missed all five of her attempts from long range. She did convert 8-of-9 free three attempts.



Freshmen Macey Klebesadel and Danee Collier each scored 13 points in their collegiate debuts. Collier, a 5'4" guard from Bonduel HS, was 6-for-10 from the floor and tallied her first career double-double with a team-high 11 rebounds. Klebesadel, a 5'10" guard/forward and native of Muscoda, Wisconsin, made the WolfPack's lone three-point basket of the game, while also grabbing eight boards and a team-best four steals.

Madison College finished 22-for-59 (37.3%) overall compared to the 28-for-70 (40%) effort from the Scots, who made six more three-pointers and two more free throws than the home team. The teams combined for 45 turnovers, however, MCC took better advantage with a 22-10 edge in points off turnovers. They also scored a 45-38 margin in total rebounds and were plus-four in second chance points.

Up Next: 

Madison College (0-1) continues a two-game homestand to open the season with a Saturday matinee against NJCAA DI Highland Community College (0-0). The WolfPack beat the Cougars by three on the road last year, marking the third straight win in the head-to-head series and the seventh victory in the last eight meetings. The all-time series dates back to 1979 and stands at a 17-14 advantage for Madison College, including a 10-5 edge in games played in Wisconsin. Tip-off is at 1:00 p.m. at H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium. The team will also be celebrating Family Day, in which it will honor the commitments and sacrifices made by the parents and families of WolfPack student-athletes.

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