MADISON, WISC. - Amidst the Title IX 50th Anniversary Celebration, the Madison College and Milwaukee Area Technical College women's basketball teams treated fans to a dramatic in-state showdown that came down to the wire. The visiting Stormers handed the WolfPack their eighth consecutive loss in a 68-66 decision in North Central Community College Conference play Tuesday inside H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium. All eight Madison College players scored in the loss, which is the third in the last four meetings of the I-94 series that stands at 75-16 in favor of the Pack.

In front of an energized crowd, the WolfPack started strong as freshman Jordanna Davis tallied eight points in a 12-0 run that followed a game-opening basket for MATC-Milwaukee. The differential grew to a dozen as Madison College closed the quarter five straight points for a 19-7 advantage. After pushing the lead to a game-high 13 early in the second quarter, the Pack saw their edge slowly dissipate as Milwaukee Area Technical College (12-9, 3-1) rallied to get within three in the final minute before a Cora Hansen layup made it 32-27 at the half.

The Stormers produced their best quarter of basketball in the third with 24 points as they eventually pulled even at 40-40 just over halfway through the ten minutes. The two teams traded baskets over the next five minutes, which ended with a MATC-Milwaukee jumper that tied the game at 51-51 entering the fourth quarter. After Davis hit a driving layup to put the home team ahead, Milwaukee Tech seized the momentum with a 14-2 run that yielded a ten-point edge. Madison College refused to quit as Kayla Staveness and Emma Paulson combined to score 11 points in the final three minutes to give the Pack hope with a 67-66 deficit in the final 18 seconds. The Stormers would hit just 1 of 4 free throws down the stretch, leaving the door open for the WolfPack, who missed their final two shot attempts and had the potential game-tying basket get blocked as time expired. 



Davis scored 12 of her game-high 18 points in the first half as the freshman from La Crosse, Wisconsin, notched her seventh game with ten or more points in the last nine outings. The guard was 8 of 14 from the field with a three-pointer and a free throw. She also had four rebounds, four steals, two assists, and a block.

Sophomore Taylor Ripp nearly pulled off a double-double with 13 points and nine boards as she converted 4 of 9 shots with one make beyond the arc and a 4 for 6 effort at the charity stripe.

Six others scored as part of a balanced WolfPack offense. Mikala Williams secured a team-high ten rebounds, to go with eight points, while fellow second year guard Reyna Knox dished out four assists and tallied three points.

In a game that featured seven ties, four lead changes, and 54 combined turnovers, the Stormers out-rebounded the Pack by a 43-27 margin and owned a 52-38 edge in scoring in the paint. Madison College finished the game shooting 26 of 61 (42%) overall, and 6 of 19 (31%) from long range. They struggled to an 8 for 15 (53%) effort at the free throw line.

As part of the Title IX 50th Anniversary Celebration, Madison College Hall of Famers JoAnn Walker and Ellen Becker served as honorary captains.

Up Next:

Madison College (6-14, 0-3) remains on the home floor on Thursday, January 26 for a non-conference and non-region matchup with Gogebic Community College (13-3). The Samsons won the last meeting during the 2016-17 season, however, the WolfPack own a 28-16 lead all-time. Game time inside H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium is at 5:30 p.m. and can also be streamed live at MadisonCollege.tv.

Thursday night's doubleheader will also be Staff & Faculty Appreciation Night, with all Madison College staff & faculty receiving free popcorn with their OneCard.

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