ROCKFORD, WISC. - The Madison College women's basketball team may have walked right into a buzz saw Thursday night as they fell 88-70 in a Region 4 game against Rock Valley College. The WolfPack saw Maia Ellis and Dani Latz each register a double-double; however, it was not enough against a Golden Eagles team that has now won six straight games and 15 of their last 17. The Pack, which has dropped four straight games overall, has lost 15 consecutive games to RVC and trails by a 31-18 margin in the all-time series.

Rock Valley College (18-8) lit up the scoreboard early with the first ten points of the game and eventually led 15-2 less than four minutes in. Madison College was able to get on track and eventually narrowed the differential to seven when Amaya Travis sank her fourth three-pointer in the last six games after not making one in the season's first 18 contests. Fellow freshman Jaida Gaskins scored in the paint late as the first quarter came to a close with RVC leading 26-17. The first few minutes of the second quarter again belonged to the home team, as the Golden Eagles pushed their advantage to to 40-23 with seven consecutive points. But the WolfPack answered the call on both ends, holding Rock Valley College without a basket for nearly six minutes and ending the half with an 11-0 surge to make it a 40-34 game at halftime.

Keelyn Zwirschitz completed an and-1 early in the third quarter to jump start a quick 7-0 burst after two early RVC buckets, bringing the deficit to two possessions at 45-41. The Golden Eagles then turned it up a notch with an 18-5 run as they again led by 17 until Travis beat the third quarter buzzer on a put back to make it 66-52 with ten minutes to play. Madison College made one last push early in the fourth to pull within ten, but would never get the differential back to single digits. Still down 11 with 5:24 remaining after a Gaskins basket made it 77-66, RVC closed out the game with an 11-4 stretch.



Gaskins led the Pack with 16 points as she made 8 of 20 shot attempts. The 5'8" guard, who has reached ten or more points in seven of the last eight games, also added three rebounds, three steals, and two assists.

Ellis, a native of Verona, Wisconsin, secured her second double-double since joining the team in early-January after posting career-highs with 14 points and 13 rebounds. She finished 6 for 10 from the floor and made both free throw attempts, to go along with three assists, two blocks, and two steals.

Latz, a 5'10" forward, added to her impressive collection of double-doubles with her 19th of the season, scoring 13 points and grabbing a dozen rebounds. Her stat line also included four steals and three blocks.

Guard Hannah Solie also reached double figures with ten points, thanks in part to a pair of three-pointers. Solie contributed three assists and two rebounds. Travis tallied a career-best nine points.

Madison College committed 33 turnovers, their second-highest in a game this winter, and RVC turned it into a 35-11 advantage in points off turnovers and a 20-6 edge in fast break points.

The WolfPack finished 30 for 65 (46%) overall, 3 for 7 (43%) from long range, and 7 of 10 (70%) at the free throw line.

Up Next:

Madison College (9-15) will play its regular season home finale on Saturday, February 15 against the College of DuPage (14-12). The WolfPack lead the all-time series by a 28-18 tally despite the Chaparrals owning a four-game win streak in head-to-head matchups. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. inside H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium and can be live streamed at MadisonCollege.TV.



Follow WolfPack women's basketball: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram