By Lindsey Soet
On Feb. 14, the Grand Rapids Community College women’s basketball team traveled to Muskegon to face off against rival Muskegon Community College. After a tough battle, GRCC ultimately fell to the Jayhawks, 70-60.
The Raiders made the first move of the game, with freshman forward Sophia Modderman scoring the first two points with 8:55 left in the quarter. Freshman guard Tia Richard took charge for GRCC in the first quarter, scoring eight of their 15 points. The Raiders shot 37.5% from the field and had one personal foul and four turnovers. GRCC ended the first quarter down 17-15.
Sophomore guard Avery Jirous played an essential role in the second quarter, scoring five of the Raider’s 17 points, with her late two-point shot tying the score. Freshman forward Ava Schultz was a large contributor as well, scoring four points in the quarter. GRCC shot 31.58% from the field, had four turnovers and amassed seven fouls. Despite a slow start in the second quarter, GRCC tied the score 32-32 heading into the second half.
The Raiders dominated the Jayhawks in the opening minutes of the second half, quickly taking the lead. However, this lead did not last for GRCC, as MCC took the lead back with 7:54 left in the quarter and kept it for the remainder of the game. The Raiders shot 38.46% from the field, had five turnovers and three fouls. GRCC ended the third quarter down 45-53.
GRCC continued to struggle in the fourth quarter, as MCC began to pull farther ahead. The Raiders struggled in terms of shooting this quarter, as they only made 28.57% of shots from the field. Despite a minor comeback late in the quarter, the game ended with the Raiders losing to MCC 70-60.
Richard led the Raiders with 16 points and five assists and Schultz scored 11 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.
Kaylie VanDerHulst, a freshman forward who scored seven points, 12 rebounds and two assists, said that she believed the team’s change in mentality cost them the win.
“We fell short and had a change of mindsets when we weren’t getting the calls we wanted,” VanDerHulst stated via text.
GRCC is now 7-14 overall and 4-6 in conference play. The Raiders will be back at the Ford Fieldhouse on Feb. 17 to play Alpena Community College at 1 p.m.
