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Bay Ladies Smack Kirtland; MCCAA Race Tightens
 Click the thumbnails to see photos and videos, and to hear post-game comments from Makenna Hendrickson and James Fassett. Also click the AUDIO button to hear Kyra Anders' player spotlight interview.
 As the Norse game ended, the ladies got word that Muskegon Community College stunned undefeated and first place Mid-Michigan, 66-57, in Muskegon. The result leaves Bay College and Muskegon tied for second place, one game behind Mid-Michigan. All three teams have two games remaining in the regular season.
“Well, quite honestly, this doesn't help us a ton, because if we end up in a three-way tie, we're third anyway,” Norse Coach James Fassett said. “It's good to see them (Mid-Michigan) tested. It's good to see that Muskegon's playing well. It's good to know that Mid-Michigan is beatable. Regardless of where we finish, we want to be playing our best this time of the year. Third seed, second seed, it doesn't matter.”
Bay lost close games to both Muskegon and Mid-Michigan, then got revenge on Muskegon with a win last Saturday. The Norse will host Mid-Michigan next Tuesday in the regular season finale with a chance to finish in a three-way tie for the conference championship. But the fact that Bay lost six close games in the non-conference season may come back to hurt the Norse in their regional seeding.
Mid-Michigan and Muskegon have much better non-conference records, and will beat out the Norse on the sixth tie-breaker. Fassett, though, says the losses to Mid-Michigan and Muskegon are the ones that sting.
“It we could have squeaked out those two wins, we'd be in the driver's seat right now,” Fassett said. “It is what it is at this point.”
 Againt Kirtland, Makenna Hendrickson was in control on both ends of the court. The Baraga High School graduate had an impressive final stat line: 12 points, ten assists, eight rebounds, six steals, and two blocked shots. She made four of the six shots she took from the floor, and was perfect (4-for-4) at the free throw line.
“I think it went well,” Hendrickson said. “We came out with a lot of energy. We knew it was going to be kind of s lower game unless we took control of it, and we did. We pushed the ball, and I think it worked out well for us. No matter if you're beating a team by 20, or it's a one-point game, you just have to go after the ball.”
“Makenna was great,” Fassett said. “She defended well, got in passing lanes well, and got a ton of steals and assists. She kind of really led our offensive attack. When we needed to run offense, she got us into an offense. When we needed to run a play, she got us into a play. And defensively, she led us at the top. So, great job by her today.”
Six Norse players finished scoring in double figures, and all eight Norse players (Kadie Kaukola missed the trip due to class commitments) scored in the first quarter as the Norse took a 28-14 lead. That lead grew to 52-23 at halftime as Bay held the Firebirds to just three baskets in the second quarter. Kirtland had 21 turnovers in the game,
 Kennedy Sproule, who scored 45 points and nailed 13 triples in this building last season, had a double-double of 17 points and ten rebounds this time. She also had six assists and blocked three shots.
Anisa Longs also scored 17 points and had five rebounds, Lauren Zawada had 15 points and pulled down six boards, and McKenzie Hoffmeyer contributed 13 points, along with eight rebounds. Anna Axtell chipped in twelve points and grabbed seven boards.
Kirtland (4-15 overall, 3-9 MCCAA) was officially eliminated from post-season consideration. Alyssa Kiel led the Firebirds with ten points, and Adrianna Gilmore scored nine points. Riley Mast had a game-high eleven rebounds.
Bay College (17-9 overall, 10-2 MCCAA) has two home games to end the season. On Saturday, the Norse will host Delta College (9-15, 6-6 MCCAA) on Alumni Day. The game tips at 1:00 and it will be broadcast live on FM-106.3 and on-line at www.baynorse.com.
Mid-Michigan will host Alpena Friday night, and Muskegon will be at Kirtland on Saturday.  |
