MADISON, WISC. - Wednesday night's home opener came down to a last second buzzer-beater that unfortunately went against the Madison College women's basketball team in a 44-42 loss to NCAA Division III University of Dubuque JV inside H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium. The tenth-ranked WolfPack erased a 13-point third quarter deficit with a huge fourth quarter rally that tied the game in the final minute before the Spartans netted an inside bucket in the last second of the game. The loss marks the first for the 'Pack in the short five-game history between the two programs.

Madison College led 6-3 early in the opening quarter before Dubuque used back-to-back three-pointers to ignite an 8-1 run heading into the second quarter. After pulling within a basket with just over three minutes remaining in the half, the WolfPack eventually fell behind by nine until freshman Brianna Hendricks splashed a corner three at the buzzer to take a 23-17 deficit into the locker room.

A 10-0 surge midway through the third quarter put the Spartans ahead 36-23, but Madison College ran off five straight points to narrow the gap. After UD pushed the differential back to double-digits at 42-31 with six minutes to play, first year guard Laurissa Pickel buried a three-pointer for her only basket of the game and the rally was on. The 12-0 was capped by five consecutive points from sophomore Olivia Marron, including a interior basket at the one minute mark the tied the game at 42. Following a missed jumper by the Spartans, the WolfPack turned the ball over with 16 seconds to play, and Dubuque set up a play that ended with a successful shot in the lane by Megan Boby with four-tenths of a second remaining. A half-court heave at the buzzer came up short for Madison College. 

The WolfPack were led by Marron's season-high 17 points on 7 of 14 shooting and a 3 for 4 night at the free throw line. The forward from La Farge, Wisconsin, who just finished played volleyball for Madison College in the fall, also tallied six rebounds, two blocks, and two steals.

Six other players scored or Madison College, but none had more than five points. Freshman guard Taylor Ripp, a native of Lodi, Wisconsin, was secured a career-high ten rebounds, four assists, and four steals, to go along with four points.

Madison College shot 17 of 57 (30%) for the game and was 2 of 9 beyond the arc (22%). They also converted 6 of 11 (54%) free throws and owned a 28-22 lead in points in the paint despite giving up 21 offensive rebounds to the Spartans. The two teams combined for 55 turnovers. 

Up Next:

Madison College (0-2) will travel to play in the Anoka-Ramsey Community College Tournament this weekend in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. The WolfPack will open on Friday, November 12 with a 5:00 p.m. game against St. Cloud Technical College (0-0), who they own a 3-1 all-time record against. Game two on Saturday, November 13 is at 2:00 p.m. against the host Golden Rams (0-0). The 'Pack has lost two straight against ARCC and trail in the head-to-head meetings by a 9-5 count. Both games can be watch live here.

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