MADISON, WISC. - After digging themselves into a deep hole in the first half, the Madison College women's basketball team was unable to capitalize on key opportunities in the second half as their late rally fell short in a 90-78 loss to Joliet Junior College in the first North Central Community College Conference game of the season. The loss snapped a ten-game win streak for the WolfPack - who entered the game receiving votes in the latest NJCAA Division III Poll - despite receiving 60 combined points from Aniah Williams and Shaquita Lee against the #7-ranked Wolves in H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium on Thursday night. 

With a new-look roster, Madison College struggled to get defensive stops and rebounds throughout the first half, allowing Joliet Junior College (10-6, 1-0) to make 27 fields goals compared to just 29 total attempts for the home team. The Wolves finished with a 70-37 edge in total rebounds, with more than half of their boards coming on the offensive end and leading to a 27-7 lead in second chance points and a 66-42 differential in interior scoring. The visitors also bested the 'Pack by a 26-8 margin in points off turnovers despite the teams finishing with similar turnover totals.

Giving up 30 points in each of the first two quarters, the WolfPack found themselves down by as much as 12 in the first quarter and 22 at the break. However, Williams opened the third quarter with a personal 9-1 run against JJC to gain some momentum and pull within 14. The 'Pack would win the quarter, but only managed to get within 13 at 79-66 heading into the final quarter. Neither team was able to find the basket with any regularity in the last ten minutes as they combined to shoot 8 of 36 (22%), with the score differential never getting inside of a dozen.

Williams converted 12 of 23 shots and made 8 of 14 free throws to score a career-high 32 points and become the second player this season to surpass the 30-point mark. Tied for the 13th highest scoring game in program history, the native of Beloit, Wisconsin, has boosted her season average to 19.2 points per game and has reached at least 20 points on five occasions.



Newcomer Shaquita Lee, who joined the team over the semester break, dropped in 28 points in her WolfPack debut. The former Madison West High School athlete buried four 3-pointers as part of a 7 for 18 effort overall. Like Williams, Lee also wore a path to the free throw line, where she knocked down 10 of 12 attempts. The transfer from NJCAA Division I Sauk Valley Community College finished with eight rebounds, three steals, and two assists.

Four other players also scored for coach Lois Heeren's team, which Caitlyn Gilbertson's six points and team-high nine rebounds. Tyra Day made her first career start and scored four points while also handing out a team-best three assists.

Even with the loss, the WolfPack still lead in the all-time series by an 18-13 count.

Up Next: 

Madison College (10-4, 0-1) will play on the road for the first time in N4C competition on Saturday when they take on rival Rock Valley College (10-5, 1-0). The eight-time defending league champs are ranked #5 in the most recent DIII Poll and handed Wilbur Wright College a 59-52 in their conference opener. The Golden Eagles hve won four straight and 16 of the last 19 over the WolfPack to hold a narrow 20-18 advantage in the head-to-head series. Game time in Rockford, Illinois, is set for 1:00 p.m. Live video of the game can be seen here.

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