By Grace Howard
The Grand Rapids Community College Raiders faced an uphill battle in their final regular season game on Tuesday Feb. 25 at the Ford Fieldhouse, falling to the nationally ranked No. 15 Lansing Community College, 71-40. Despite a hard effort, GRCC struggled to find an offensive rhythm against the Star’s defense, shooting 18% from the field and 19% from the 3-point range.
The Raiders managed just two field goals in the first quarter and trailed 16-10 heading into the second. The struggles continued, as GRCC only put eight points on the board in the second quarter and entered halftime facing a 37-18 deficit.
Sophomore Tianna Daye was the leader for GRCC, leading the team with 13 points, including two 3-pointers and 5-for-5 from the free-throw line. However, she faced defensive pressure, going just 3-of-14 from the floor. Sophomore Tia Richard also found it tough to score efficiently, contributing seven points but shooting just 2-of-18 overall.
The Raiders pulled down 41 rebounds, led by freshman Averi Peot’s nine and sophomore Ava Schultz’s eight. Peot added three points and battled hard defensively. Freshman Tatyana Hardiman provided a spark off the bench with seven points, including a perfect 3-for-3 from the free-throw line.
While GRCC found some success in the paint, second-chance points weren’t enough to overcome its shooting struggles. The Raiders made just four 3-pointers on 21 attempts and couldn’t capitalize on free-throw opportunities, shooting 63.6% from the stripe.
On the defensive side, GRCC fought hard against LCC’s offense but sophomore Kara Bartels, dominated with 19 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks. Sophomore Brianna Clark added 14 points, including three triples, while the Stars’ bench contributed 18 points to take the win.
GRCC narrowed the gap in the third quarter, hitting three 3-pointers and holding Lansing to just 13 points, but the momentum was short-lived. The Raiders made three field goals in a rough fourth quarter, while Lansing closed out strong with a 21-point period.
GRCC finished the season with a 10-12 record. The Raiders will play at Region XII – Great Lakes C Tournament on March 4 at Southwestern Community College.
