LA CROSSE, WISC. - Wednesday's matchup against one of it's oldest rivals yielded the season's worst defeat for the Madison College women's basketball team, who fell 86-51 to Western Technical College in the 97th all-time meeting between the two programs. The loss, which is just the second in the past seven games for the WolfPack, snaps a five-game win streak in the head-to-head series that now stands at 75-22 in favor of Madison College.

A 9-0 run early in the opening quarter handed Western Technical College (5-1) an early 12-4 advantage that grew to ten points later in the quarter before back-to-back buckets in the final minute cut the 'Pack deficit to six. The Cavaliers controlled the second quarter with a 15-2 surge to extend the lead to 35-16 with five minutes left in the half. Madison College held the home team without a basket the rest of the half, but only managed to score six points during that stretch. After halftime, Western Tech got hit and made five straight buckets to ignite a 15-0 run and truly pull away from the WolfPack. The differential hit 33 points in the third quarter and stretched as high as 39 in the fourth.

Freshman forward Olivia Marron was the only player to score in double-figures for the WolfPack, dropping in a career-high-tying ten points for the second consecutive game. The native of La Farge, Wisconsin, was 4 for 9 off the bench and sank both of her free throw attempts, while also tallying four rebounds and a career-high three blocks.

Eight other players contributed to the scoring, including freshman guard Julia Bruns. The former Monona Grove High School athlete scored just seven points, but also reeled in a career-high ten rebounds. Sopohomore Aniah Williams went 3 for 6 from the field and netted just six points for the first sub-ten-point performance of her career, ending a streak of 35 consecutive double-digit scoring games. 

Madison College shot 34.5% (20-58) overall, and was 2 of 13 (15.4%) from long range and 9 of 16 (56.3%) at the free throw line. The Cavaliers outrebounded the WolfPack, 52-42 and committed 13 fewer turnovers, which led to differences of 27-9 in points off turnovers and 20-9 in second chance points. The 'Pack was better scoring in the paint by a 30-20 margin.

Up Next:

Madison College (6-4) returns home to play NJCAA Division II Kishwaukee College (2-5) on Saturday, December 7. The WolfPack boast a 15-8 all-time record and a three-game win streak against the Kougars in a series that dates back to 1984. Tip off at H. Dougas Redsten Gymnasium is at 1:00 p.m.

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