MADISON, WISC. - Despite taking four minutes to score their first field goal, the Madison College women's basketball recovered quickly to win their ninth straight game with a 76-37 defeat of UW-Richland on Friday night at H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium. Freshman Evonne Strahm continued her streak of double-double performances to guide the WolfPack their third straight win over an in-state foe and fourth overall against such opponents this season. The 'Pack now owns a 52-6 record all-time against the Roadrunners after securing their 13th consecutive victory in the head-to-head series. The game marked the first meeting in a decade between the two programs.

Madison College missed its first six shots of the game and trailed 4-1 when Strahm scored inside to end the shooting drought with six minutes to play in the first quarter, which ended with UW-Richland (1-4) in front of the 'Pack by an 11-10 score. The game turned in a hurry as the WolfPack, playing their third straight home game and seventh in the past eight games overall, began the second quarter with a 12-0 run and saw Strahm and fellow freshman Aniah Williams split all of the points. Additional runs of nine and seven consecutive points before the half sent coach Lois Heeren and her team to the locker room with a 40-23 lead. The differential continued to grown in the second half after a 10-0 surge to end the third quarter pushed the lead to 29 points and a 14-point burst to close out the game created the final tally. Madison College outscored the Roadrunners 66-26 in the final three quarters.

Strahm, a 5'10" forward, posted a team-best 24 points and ten rebounds for her fifth consecutive double-double. The New Glarus, Wisconsin, native converted 10 of 19 shots and was 4 for 4 at the free throw line en route to her third game of 20 points or more. Of her ten boards, six came on the offensive end, while she also led the WolfPack defensive effort with a game-high seven steals.

Williams also reached 20 points in the game, doing so for the fourth time this season as the 5'8" guard knocked down 7 of 18 field goal attempts with one 3-pointer, while also going 5 for 6 at the stripe. Williams, a former Beloit Memorial High School standout, grabbed seven rebounds and tied for team-high honors with Tyra Day as the duo each had five assists. 

First year players Johnetta Walters and Jayla Connor rounded out the double-digit scoring with 12 and ten points, respectively. Walters has reached the ten-point plateau in three consecutive outings, while Connor's streak of double-digit scoring games is now at eight straight. Sophomore forward Caitlyn Gilbertson matched Strahm on the glass with ten rebounds, to go along with her six points.

Madison College finished with a 46-24 lead in points in the paint, a 26-11 edge in points off turnovers, and a 17-10 advantage in second chance scoring. The WolfPack shot 30 of 71 for 42.3% overall and made 5 of 12 (41.7%) three-pointers. Their 11 of 12 (91.7%) free throw performance is their highest percentage in a game with at least ten attempts this season. Defensively, they held Richland to 15 of 60 (25%) shooting from the floor, 3 of 15 (20%) from long range, and 4 of 8 (50%) at the free throw line, while also forcing 25 turnovers compared to just 16 committed by the 'Pack.

Up Next: 

Madison College (9-3) is off for finals week and will return to action between the holidays with a road trip to Region IV foe Kishwaukee College in Malta, Illinois, on Saturday, December 29. The Division II Kougars are currently 5-7 on the season, however, the WolfPack boasts a 14-8 lead in the all-time series, including wins in each of the past two seasons. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m., followed by the men's game at 3:00 p.m.

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