Tough Night for Lady Jacks in UP

ESCANABA, Mich. – The Alpena Community College women's basketball team faced a challenging road test Tuesday night, falling to conference leader Bay College 119-40 in Michigan Community College Athletic Association Northern Conference action.

The Lumberjacks (4-10, 0-4 MCCAA North) struggled to find offensive rhythm throughout the contest against the Norse (15-3, 4-0 MCCAA North), who extended their conference winning streak with a dominant performance at home.

Freshman forward Brooke Portice delivered the highlight performance for ACC, scoring a team-high 23 points on an efficient 9-of-14 shooting from the field. Portice also converted 5-of-6 free throw attempts and grabbed six rebounds while battling in the paint against Bay College's aggressive defense.

"Brooke competed hard tonight and gave us everything she had," coach Karl Momrik noted. "She was our most consistent offensive threat and showed the kind of effort we need from everyone."

The Lumberjacks faced significant challenges from beyond the arc, finishing 0-for-10 on three-point attempts. The team shot 33.3% overall from the field (15-of-45) while Bay College heated up for 46.1% shooting, including a scorching 38.9% from three-point range (14-of-36).

ACC struggled to protect the basketball, committing 40 turnovers that Bay converted into numerous transition opportunities. The Norse capitalized on the Lumberjacks' miscues with 27 steals, led by Makenna Hendrickson's five takeaways.

Bay College established control early, taking a 24-11 lead after the first quarter. The Norse extended their advantage significantly in the second period, outscoring Alpena 38-3 to build a commanding 62-14 halftime lead.

The Lumberjacks showed improved competitiveness in the second half, scoring 16 points in the third quarter and 10 in the fourth, but Bay College's early surge proved insurmountable.

Saige Flaugher contributed four points, six rebounds, and three assists. Lillie Maser added five points and eight rebounds in 25 minutes of action. Abby Platt chipped in four points, three rebounds, and two assists, while Allison Cece recorded two points, four rebounds, and three assists.

Bay College received balanced scoring across its roster. Jillian Fraser led all scorers with 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting, including an impressive 7-of-10 performance from three-point range. Lauren Zawada added 23 points with 10 rebounds and five assists, while Mckenzie Hoffmeyer contributed 15 points.

The Lumberjacks will look to regroup as they continue conference play on Saturday hosting Mid Michigan College at Park Arena. The team will focus on reducing turnovers and improving perimeter shooting as they prepare for their next matchup.

Despite the challenging result, Portice's performance provided a foundation to build upon, and the coaching staff remains committed to developing consistency across all four quarters of play.

For more information on Alpena Community College athletics, visit the Lumberjacks athletic website or follow the team on social media.