Local Sports Journal

The Muskegon Community College women’s basketball team dropped three games over the past week in the Laker Holiday Classic at Lake Land College in Mattoon, Illinois.

In the first game, MCC (7-2) lost to John Wood Community College (10-3) in a hard fought contest 70-61. The Jayhawks struggled from the floor shooting 37 percent. MCC battled back from a 14-point deficit to lead with four minutes remaining, 59-58, but could not apply enough defensive pressure to get the victory.

Dani Jones had a double-double with 15 rebounds and 10 points. Morgan Giddings played an outstanding game with 13 points, seven assists, seven rebounds and five  steals. Abby Rodriguez chipped in 17 points with four 3-point field goals.

In the second game, MCC fell to Danville Area Community College 72-45. The Jayhawks played a solid first half,  trailing 33-28 before a long 3-point buzzer beater by Danville opened an 8 point lead that never closed. The Jayhawks shot awful from the field (29 percent) including 1 of 19 (five percent) from beyond the arc.

Rodriguez led the Jayhawks with 10 points and four steals.  Giddings played her usual steady game on the offensive and defensive end with eight points and eight rebounds.  McKayla McDonald played well with eight points and four rebounds.

The Jayhawks wrapped up the tournament with a 77-41 loss to host Lake Land College. MCC battled the Lakers for much of the first half but fell apart as the game progressed. Giddings capped off her strong tournament with 12 points, seven assists, six steals and six rebounds and was named to the all-tournament team. 

MCC fell to 7-4 on the season.