MADISON, WISC. - The Madison College women's basketball team closed out the home portion of the 2022-23 schedule Saturday at H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium with a 71-53 setback to Region 4 Division II opponent South Suburban College. Prior to the game, the quarter of Reyna Knox, Elysia Phon, Taylor Ripp, and Mikala Williams were recognized (video above) for their commitment to the WolfPack as the Sophomore Class of 2023, while a trio of freshmen came through as the top scorers in the game. 

A slow start saw both teams only score a single basket through nearly four minutes of play, however, both offenses found a groove and a competitive first quarter ended with a 14-13 lead for Madison College. The second quarter opened with a six straight points for the Bulldogs, and while the WolfPack were able to tie the game up twice more over the next three minutes, South Suburban College (15-11) eventually put together a 11-0 surge to end the half and take a 38-26 lead into halftime.

Trailing by 15 after three minutes of the third quarter, the Pack rattled off seven straight points to make it a 45-37 game after a Jordanna Davis layup. Kayla Staveness drilled a three-pointer with 1:09 to play in the quarter to keep the differential at eight, and then the Bulldogs answered with a triple of their own in the final minute. That basket keyed a 9-0 burst spanning the third and fourth quarters as the visitors rebuilt a 17-point edge. Madison College was unable to trim the deficit back to single digits the rest of the game.

Davis and fellow first year guard Emma Paulson paced the WolfPack with 14 points each. Davis converted 6 of 15 shots and hit one 3-pointer and a free throw. She has now reached double-figures in eight consecutive games, her longest such streak of the season.

Paulson, a Columbus, Wisconsin, native, made three 3-pointers for the fourth time this season as part of a 4 for 8 effort from the floor. She also made 3 fo 6 free throws en route to her third double-digit scoring performance.

Staveness also buried three shots from beyond the arc and made 4 of 8 shots overall to tally 11 points. The former Rio HS athlete had produced multiple three-pointers in six of the last seven games.

Ripp grabbed a team-best 12 rebounds to go along with eight points, whlie Williams dished out a team-high seven assists, to go along with eight boards and two points.

Madison College finished 18 of 65 (27%) from the field, 8 of 22 (36%) outside the arc, and 9 of 16 (56%) at the line. South Suburban College racked up a 47-31 advantage in rebounds and an 18-9 lead in second chance scoring. The Bulldogs were also plus-12 in points in the paint, while the WolfPack tallied a 15-0 edge in points off turnovers. 

Saturday's game marked the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

Up Next:

Madison College (8-17, 1-5) will complete the rest of the season away from home, starting with a North Central Community College Conference and Region 4 Division III game on Thursday, February 16 at Harper College (3-12, 0-7). The game is a makeup from a postponed game on January 19, and follows an 80-65 win for the WolfPack over the Hawks on February 7. The Pack boast a 19-3 lead in the all-time series. Tip off in Palatine, Illinois, is set for 7:00 p.m.

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