GALESBURG, ILL. - Thursday night's 76-47 loss in the Region 4 Division II Women's Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals against Carl Sandburg College completed a successful turnaround season for Madison College. The #12-seeded WolfPack, who were limited to just five available players for the game, saw a career-high point total from freshman Keelyn Zwirschitz; however, the #5-seeded Chargers used a substantial 32-8 scoring differential in the second quarter to take control. Madison College finishes the season with an 11-17 record, marking a ten-win improvement for coach Angel Whetstone's program, the program's first appearance in the Region 4 Division II Tournament, and the Pack's first double-digit win season since 2019-20.

Carl Sandburg College (22-9) scored the game's first seven points before Zwirschitz made a fastbreak layup just over two minutes in to spark a quick 7-0 response that tied the game. Following a Sandburg three-pointer, the WolfPack rattled off another seven consecutive points to assume their only lead of the night at 13-10. 

Tied at 13 through one quarter, the teams traded baskets and ties until an A'nise Keys converted a layup to make it 19-19 with 7:33 to play in the half. The Chargers exploded for a 12-0 surge until Zwirschitz added a basket with 2:54 remaining; however, Sandburg's run continued with another 14-0 stretch to give the home team a 45-21 halftime lead.



The second half was a more balanced game between the two teams. The Chargers pushed the differential to as high as 29 a couple of times, while the WolfPack drew as close as 20 points in the fourth quarter after an 8-3 start to the quarter. Madison College finished the game with just three players after Keys and Dani Latz both fouled out.

Zwirschitz racked up a game-high 23 points for her second game with more than 20 points this season. The native of Antigo, Wisconsin, was 9 for 17 overall with a pair of three-pointers and a 3 for 6 effort at the free throw line. She also a team-leading eight rebounds.

Latz, a forward from Bloomer, Wisconsin, tallied 13 points on 5 of 15 shooting from the field and 3 for 4 from the charity stripe. She added seven rebounds and three blocked shots. Latz finishes the season averaging a team-best 14.4 points and 11.8 rebounds, with the latter ranking her seventh in the nation.

Maia Ellis and Keys rounded out the scoring with six and five points, respectively. Ellis dished out a team-high six assists, while Keys added seven boards. 

Madison College finished the game shooting 39% (18-46) overall, 15% (2-13) from long range, and 56% (9-16) at the line. The Chargers owned a 46-34 advantage on the glass and a 12-4 lead in second chance points, as well as a 22-8 differential in points off turnovers.

Carl Sandburg College won all three meetings with the WolfPack in 2024-25 and now owns a 9-5 edge in the all-time series, with Thursday marking the first postseason meeting. Sandburg advances to Saturday's semifinal round and will take on #4-seed Black Hawk College in Rockford, Illinois. The championship is on March 8, with the winner earning an automatic bid to the NJCAA Division II Women's Basketball National Championships in Joplin, Missouri.

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