JOLIET, ILL. - For the first time all season the Madison College women's basketball team never possessed the lead during the course of a 40-minute game, resulting in a 72-67 road loss to Joliet Junior College on Wednesday. The third-ranked WolfPack have lost two of their last three games - and two straight on the road - and now sit two full games back of Rock Valley College at the top of the North Central Community College Conference standings.

After a fairly competitive first quarter that saw the Madison College (16-5, 7-2) trail by as much as five until a Wolves three-pointer beat the buzzer for a 25-18 advantage, the WolfPack put together a 9-0 to tie the game at 31 on a Mackenzie Ripp interior basket with just under six minutes remaining in the half. However, Joliet Junior College (15-9, 5-4) finished the half by outscoring the 'Pack 17-5 to take a double-digit lead into the locker room. The two teams traded baskets throughout much of the rest of the second half, with Madison College getting as close as two when Rachel Slaney's jumper in the lane made it 64-62 with 4:51 to play. Joliet answered with eight straight points to put the game on ice.

Sophomore Rachel Slaney, who on Saturday became the third player to score 1,000 points in her career, continued her assault on the Madison College record books with 30 points and 20 rebounds. The All-American made 11-of-19 shots and 7-of-10 free throw attempts, while also leading the team with three assists and a three blocks. Slaney, a former Barneveld (WI) HS athlete, pulled within a point of tying Dana Wagner (Sun Prairie, WI/2007-09) for second on the school's all-time scoring list and moved into fourth for all-time rebounds with 531, now sitting one better than Lori Schwenn (DeForest, WI/1991-93). The double-double is her 15th of the season and 23rd of her career.

Freshmen Peyton Trapino and Megan Corcoran were the only other players to score in double figures with 14 and 10 points, respectively. Trapino, now with nine straight games with ten or more points, knocked down 7-of-11 shots, to go along with team-highs of three steals and three assists. Corcoran, a former Madison La Follette (WI) HS athlete, reached double-digit points for the second straight game and for the 14th game this winter.

The WolfPack actually outshot the host Wolves from the field by a margin of 43% to 37%, but fell short at the free throw line by a difference of five makes and 15 attempts. The visitors also committed 21 turnovers for their ninth game of the season with at least 20, aiding in the end of a four-game win streak over JJC. The all-time series now stands at 16-10 in favor of Madison College.

The extended road trip continues on Friday with an in-state matchup against rival Milwaukee Area Technical College (13-9, 5-4). The Stormers have won three of their last four games this season and have split the past four meetings with the WolfPack. Madison College did win  88-59 inside Redsten Gymnasium on January 11 and will be playing for their first season sweep since the 2012-13 season. The game, which was originally scheduled for Saturday but was moved up to Friday earlier this week, will tip off at 6:00 p.m. on the Alverno College campus.

The game will be broadcast live on MadisonCollege.TV and via the Madison College Athletics Facebook page.

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