COMING UP SHORT: Bay Ladies Lose To Monarchs

Click the thumbnails to see photos and videos, and hear Alaina Trudeau's player spotlight interview

WARREN, Mich.---The Bay College Norse women’s basketball team lost a heartbreaker in the final seconds for the third time this season Friday night, falling to the Macomb Community College Monarchs, 70-66, in the Detroit suburb of Warren.

The Norse went on a big run late in the third quarter and early in the fourth quarter to build a 12-point lead, and after falling behind, they tied the game on an Andie Arsenault triple with 30 seconds left before giving up the game’s final four points.

Bay led, 15-11, after one quarter, but the Monarchs outscored the Norse, 16-3, to grab a 27-18 lead. DeBraya Edwards had three baskets during that spurt.

But the Norse closed the first half strong, with Arsenault finishing a 15-4 Bay run to take a 33-31 lead. But Bay committed two of their 15 first-half turnovers in the final minute and the Monarchs regained a 36-34 lead at halftime.

The third quarter belonged to the Norse, as they held the Monarchs to just ten points. Bay took a 48-44 lead when Chevy Koski scored twice, and then Arsenault closed the quarter with a driving layup that put Bay ahead, 54-46, after three.

The fourth quarter started good as well for Bay, with Tianna Taylor finishing a 7-0 Norse run that put Bay in the lead, 58-46, with eight minutes left in the game.

Things changed, however, as Macomb’s Amy Jackson, wo was 1-of-13 on triples in the first half, started to get hot behind the long arch. She hit two of them, and Rylce Thomas added a triple of her own, to bring the Monarchs to within 58-55.

Alaina Trudeau stopped the run with a three that gave Bay a 61-55 lead with 4:56 to play, but Macomb scored ten straight points as its pressure defense continued to give the Norse fits. A pass to Edwards led to a hoop with 2:13 left that put the Norse into that six-point hole.

Bay wasn’t done yet, however, as Arsenault knocked down a pair of triples, including the one that tied that contest at 66 with 30.3 seconds on the clock.

But the Monarchs fed Edwards for a lay-up that regained their lead, and then the Norse, with 13 seconds left, missed the inside basket. Macomb put the game away with two foul shots.

Arsenault led the Norse with 19 points, nine rebounds, and five steals. Koski had 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Madsion Olsen added 12 points and six boards.

Edwards led Macomb with a game-high 22 points and 11 rebounds. Jackson finished with 21 points, and she drained four of her six three-point attempts in the second half after that rough first half. She also had six rebounds.

Macomb improved to 5-3 on the season while Bay dropped to 5-4, with three of those losses coming by seven points or less.

Bay travels to Oakland Community College on Saturday. Game time is 1:00. It will be broadcast on Maverick 106.3 and www.radioresultsnetwork.com.