JOLIET, ILL. - The final regular season game of the 2021-22 season got off to a slow start for the Madison College women's basketball team, who eventually dropped a 78-55 game to Joliet Junior College on Tuesday night. The loss will impact where the WolfPack is seeded in the upcoming Region 4 Tournament, which begins with semifinal games on Friday after the seeding meeting on Wednesday. The split of the regular season series with the Wolves narrows the all-time series to 22-15 in favor of the 'Pack.

Joliet Junior College (9-13, 6-4) generated a 9-0 run late in the first quarter to cap a fast start that gave the hosts a 24-8 lead after the first ten minutes. Madison College was 3 for 8 shooting and committed nine turnovers in the first quarter. Freshman Amareyna Knox opened the second quarter with a three-pointer, however, the 'Pack was unable to cut into the deficit and remained down by 16 at halftime. An 11-1 surge to begin the third quarter gave the Wolves their largest lead of the game at 51-25. The WolfPack closed to within 14 by scoring 13 of 16 points over a four-minute stretch in the fourth quarter, however, JJC finished the game with a 10-1 flurry that snapped a three-game win streak for Madison College in the head-to-head series.

Laurissa Pickel and Olivia Marron combined to score 33 of the teams 55 points, led by Pickel's 18 points. The freshman guard made 7 of 14 field goal attempts, including a 2 for 4 effort from long range, and hit 2 of 3 free throws. The Reedsburg, Wisconsin, native caps the regular season with 12 double-digit scoring games, highlighted by nine such efforts in the final 13 games. 

Marron, a second-year forward from La Farge, Wisconsin, used a 6 for 11 performance from the field and a 3 for 6 day at the charity stripe en route to 15 points. She also tallied five rebounds to accompany her fourth consecutive - and 15th overall - double-figure game. Freshman Taylor Ripp had a career-high six assists, as well as five points and three boards, while fellow first year Lauren Thole registered three points and a team-leading seven rebounds.

The Wolves took advantage of 27 Madison College turnovers to own a 26-13 lead in points off turnovers.

(UPDATED) Up Next:

Madison College (5-18, 3-6) has earned the #3-seed in the 2022 NJCAA Region 4 Division III Women's Basketball Tournament and will play at #2-seed Joliet Junior College on Friday, February 18. Of the 37 prior meetings between the two programs, six have come in the postseason and have been split those contests 3-3. They have also split the regular season series in each of the past three seasons, including the home team coming out on top of the two get-togethers in 2021-22. Tip off in Joliet, Illinois is set for 5:00 p.m.

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