On Saturday, Feb. 24, the Grand Rapids Community College women’s basketball team beat the now 1-23 (0-12 in the conference) North Central Michigan College, 58-45, in a sophomore send-off game at Ford Fieldhouse.
Before the game began, GRCC sophomore guard Avery Jirous was honored and awarded for her career with GRCC.
“She’s a kid that has a lot of basketball knowledge,” said head coach David Glazier after the game. “We joke sometimes…there are times that I’m not ready to hear from her about it, but ultimately, it’s a kid that understands the game, loves the game and she’s been a great representative of the program.”
In the first quarter, GRCC shot 6-17 (35.3%) on field goals, 3-11 (27.3%) from the 3-point line and did not attempt a free throw.
In the first quarter with 9:46 to go, NCMC freshman forward Camille Wardin got things started for the Timberwolves with a good 2-point shot assisted by freshman forward Lindsey Cross. The lead was 2-0. GRCC’s first points of the game came from freshman forward Ava Schultz’s good 3-point shot, assisted by freshman forward Kaylie VanDerHulst with 8:42 to go, putting the Raiders within one, trailing 4-3. With 4:16 to go, GRCC took its first lead of the night after Schultz put the Raiders up by two with a good 3-point shot assisted by Tia Richard. The lead was 13-11. It was a back-and-forth affair for the rest of the quarter. Just before the quarter ended, NCMC’s Wardin’s two-point shot, assisted by Cross, gave the Timberwolves a one-point lead with 1:57 to go, putting the lead to 16-15.
In the second quarter, GRCC shot 4-17 (23.5%) from the field, 2-10 (20%) from three and 6-7 (85.7%) from the free throw line.
In the second quarter with 8:33 to go, Schultz put the Raiders up by one with a good 2-point shot, unassisted. GRCC never trailed in the half, taking their largest lead of the quarter after VanDerHulst made both free throws, putting the Raiders up 31-21, with seven seconds to go.
In the third quarter, GRCC shot 6-16 (37.5%) from the field, 3-10 (30%) from three and 1-2 (50%) from the free-throw line.
In the third quarter, Jirous’s two-point shot, unassisted, gave the Raiders a 33-21 lead with 8:52 to go. GRCC once again never trailed in the quarter, taking their largest lead of 16, 43-27 after a good two-point shot by Richard, assisted by VanDerHulst with 5:05 to go. With six seconds to go, NCMC’s Wardin ended the quarter with a good two-point shot assisted by Cross. The Raiders led 47-39 after three quarters.
In the fourth quarter, GRCC shot 5-20 (25%) from the field, 0-7 (0%) from three and 1-2 (50%) from the free-point line.
With 9:09 to go, Schultz got an unassisted two-point shot to give the Raiders a 10-point, 49-39 lead. GRCC once again never trailed as they took their largest lead of the quarter by 13 points, 58-45 after a good two-point shot by VanDerHulst, assisted by Richard. This turned out to be the final score.
GRCC’s Noli Brown possesses the ball with Avery Jirous to her right during a 58-45 win over North Central Michigan College (James Herold/The Collegiate)
“Some pluses, some minuses,” said Coach Glazier after the game. “There’s some things we can get better at, but a win’s a win, so we’re gonna enjoy it and then get to work on Monday.”
In total, for the starters, Richard had eight rebounds, three assists, two turnovers, three blocks and three steals. Jirous had seven rebounds, three assists, four turnovers, two steals and one personal foul. Schultz had seven rebounds, three assists, one turnover, five steals and three personal fouls. Freshman forward Sophia Modderman had six rebounds, one assist, two turnovers, two steals and three personal fouls.
In total, off the bench, freshman shooting guard Noli Brown had one rebound, one assist and one steal. Freshman guard Anna Tubbergen had one rebound and two turnovers.
Up next, in their final regular season game, the now 9-15 (6-7 in the conference) GRCC will face the Firebirds of Kirtland Community College at Thomas Quinn Event Center in Grayling on Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 5:30 p.m.
