HICKORY, NO. CAR. - The best Madison College season in at least a decade came to an end Wednesday night with a 70-61 loss to CCBC Essex in a consolation round contest at the 2026 NJCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championships. Freshman Maddi DeSmet led the way with a career-best scoring output as the (19) WolfPack were overtaken by the (11) Knights to finish the season with a 24-6 record, the most wins for the Pack since going 27-4 in 2015-16. 
 Madison College led for most of the first quarter, including a 19-14 edge with just over a minute to play in the quarter. CCBC Essex (27-4), however, scored the final six points of the quarter and owned a 20-19 edge going into the second quarter. DeSmet scored 12 of the team's points during the first period.

The next ten minutes was truly a back-and-forth affair with neither team leading by more than three points in the game the eventually featured nine ties and a dozen lead changes. The Knights were able to score a layup in the final seconds of the half for a 36-35 lead after both teams netted 16 points in the quarter.



The game began to change midway through the third quarter after a DeSmet layup tied the game at 43-43 and a Metcalfe free throw put the WolfPack up one, the Knights hit a three-pointer and closed the quarter with a 19-6 run to lead 62-50. 

The game, however, was far from over as Madison College used another DeSmet layup to ignite a quick six straight points to turn a 12-point deficit into a 64-58 score with 6:12 remaining. Essex then got a layup and a three-pointer to regain a double-digit advantage as the WolfPack went without a field goal the remainder of the game. Three free throws did keep it within reach at 69-61, but ultimately, they missed their final 13 shots and committed two turnovers down the stretch.

DeSmet, a forward from Belleville, Wisconsin, finished with her first career 30-point game as she made 12 of 22 shots and was 6 for 9 at the free throw line. It marked just her second game with 20 or more points this season. DeSmet also added six rebounds, three steals, and an assist.

Metcalfe, a sophomore guard from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was 6 for 19 on the night with a three-pointer and a 3 for 5 effort at the stripe to score 16 points. She also registered seven boards, three steals, and two assists. Metcalfe scored 615 points on the season to finish with the fourth most points scored in a single season in team history.

Sophomore Keelyn Zwirschitz reached double-digits with 11 points on 5 of 9 shooting with one long range hit. The guard from Antigo, Wisconsin, posted seven rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block.

Fellow second year Maia Ellis led the effort on the glass with a career-high 16 rebounds, to go along with a team-high seven assists. 

Madison College shot 23-64 (36%) overall, 2-15 (13%) from beyond the arc, and 13-21 (62%) at the free throw line. The WolfPack owned a 21-13 lead in points off turnovers and a 40-30 edge in points in the paint.



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