MADISON, WISC. - Still feeling the momentum of Saturday's 61-point drubbing of Illinois Valley Community College, the Madison College women's basketball team went right back to work Tuesday and demolished Harper College with an 80-33 decision in Region 4 competition inside H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium. Five players scored at least 12 points, with two earning double-doubles, as the WolfPack used a fast start to take control of the game early. The victory improves the Pack's all-time series lead to 21-3 over the Hawks after sweeping the two regular season meetings, while also giving Madison College a 2-1 record through three games of their current five-game homestand.

Freshman Jaida Gaskins got the ball rolling with five of the game's first seven points, highlighted by a successful and-1 opportunity. After Harper College (1-20) answered with three-points of their own, the WolfPack scored 14 unanswered points to take a 21-3 lead after a first quarter that saw the Hawks go without a basket for the final 7:45. The teams traded baskets over the next four-plus minutes of the second quarter; however, Madison College again finished strong with a 16-0 surge to take a 47-10 lead into the locker room.



The differential continued to grow throughout the second half. The WolfPack outscored Harper College by a 14-9 margin in the third quarter, and then 19-14 over the final ten minutes. The advantage peaked at 52 points when freshman Maia Ellis, a Verona, Wisconsin, native, playing her sixth game since joining team at the semester break, scored the WolfPack's final basket in the last two minutes to make it 80-28.

Gaskins, a product of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, took advantage of her quick start to produce a game-high 15 points on 5 of 13 shooting with one 3-pointer, while also converting 4 of 5 free throws. The 5'8" freshman also recorded five rebounds, four steals, two assists, and two blocks.

Dani Latz and Hannah Solie each finished with 14 points. Latz, who made 7 of 18 shots, also recorded her 15th double-double after the Bloomer, Wisconsin, native reeled in 11 rebounds. She also filled the rest of her stat line with five steals, four assists, and four blocks. Solie was 6 of 9 overall with a 2 for 4 effort from beyond the arc, scoring ten of her points in the second quarter, and also came through with three boards, three steals, and two assists.

Ellis, a 5'10" guard, established new career-high's en route to her first double-double, scoring 13 points and hauling in ten rebounds. She also dished out a career-best eight assists to narrowly miss a triple-double, and came up with four steals.



Keelyn Zwirschitz was the final player to score in double-figures as the 5'11" guard racked up a dozen points, six assists, four rebounds, four steals, and one block.

For the second consecutive game, Madison College established new team-high's for the season with 26 assists and 28 steals. The assists led to a 42% (32-76) shooting night that included a 5 for 16 (31%) effort from distance. They also sank 11 of 17 (64%) attempts at the free throw line. The WolfPack held a 51-31 edge in total rebounds and committed 22 fewer turnovers. At the offensive end, the Pack created a 41-6 lead in points off turnovers, 42-8 differential in points in the paint, and a 14-2 edge in second chance points. 

Up Next:

Madison College (8-10) remains home on Saturday, February 1 when they host Carl Sandburg College (15-7). The Chargers earned a 77-61 win in Illinois on November 16 and boast a 7-5 lead in head-to-head meetings with the WolfPack. The game is schedule to start at noon inside H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium and can be live streamed at MadisonCollege.TV.

Following the game, the Madison College Athletics Department will celebrate Gary "Big Dog" Breneman's 50 years of service to Madison College with a special scholarship announcement prior to the start of the men's game. 

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