ROCKFORD, ILL. - With an opportunity to earn a share of the North Central Community College Conference title for the first time in eight years, the Madison College women's basketball could not recover from a tough second quarter in a 70-64 loss to outright league champion Rock Valley College. The loss in the regular season finale snaps a six-game win streak for the WolfPack, who finish two games back of the #5 Golden Eagles atop the N4C standings. Madison College finishes the regular season with a 19-8 record overall and an 11-3 mark in the N4C, its best conference record since also going 11-3 in 2014-15.

The WolfPack flexed some early muscle with an 8-2 run that turned a tie game into a 15-9 differential late in the first quarter, which closed with the visitors owning a 22-17 edge. The second quarter, however, played out much differently as the Golden Eagles scored 13 of the first 18 points to assume a three-point lead. A Megan Corcoran jumper regained a slim one-point advantage, but RVC scored in the final 25 seconds to take a 32-31 lead into the break. Rock Valley won the second quarter by a 15-9 margin.

Throughout the third quarter Madison College remained within two possessions, but five straight free throws - the last of which coming on a three-point play - for the home team kept Rock Valley in control. A Caitlyn Gilbertson free throw and an interior Corcoran bucket turned the scoreboard over to Madison College to open the fourth quarter. The Golden Eagles followed with a 15-4 surge and firmly held control of the game with a 61-51 lead and just over three minutes remaining. The WolfPack trimmed the deficit to four twice in the final minute before taking the six-point setback.

Corcoran scored a team-leading 15 points, tied for team-high honors with eight rebounds (Danee Collier), and blocked a game-high six shots. The former Madison La Follette athlete ends the regular season with a team-leading 20.8 points per game average after scoring in double-figures for the 15th consecutive game. The six blocks fall one shy of a career-best effort, while extending her consecutive games with a block streak to 13 and gives her 37 rejections over that stretch.

Gilbertson, playing in just her second game back after missing nine in a row due to injury, registered 12 points and five boards. The Belmont HS graduate made 4 of 9 field goals and 4 of 5 free throws. Peyton Trapino was the only other player to reach double-digits with 11 points.

The 'Pack shot 39% (24-61) overall and just 5 of 22 (22.7%) from long range. For the 16th time this season they committed at least 20 turnovers, finishing with 23 for the game. Rock Valley won the battle inside with a 36-24 edge in points in the paint and 44-37 lead in total rebounds to win their fourth consecutive game in the head-to-head series, which stands at 20-18 in favor of the Golden Eagles.

Up Next: 

Madison College (19-8, 11-3) will open the 2018 NJCAA Region IV Division III Tournament with a home quarterfinal game against the College of DuPage (3-21, 0-14) in a #2 vs. #7 matchup on Tuesday, February 20. The WolfPack defeated the Chaparrals 78-40 one game prior for their tenth straight win against COD, and now boast a 22-13 all-time record. The two teams have not met in the postseason since the 2010-11 season. Tip off is at 7:00 p.m. at H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium.

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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