LocalSportsJournal.com
MUSKEGON–The Muskegon Community College Lady Jayhawks dug themselves a big hole in the first quarter against Kalamazoo Valley Community College on Wednesday evening.
However, a huge second quarter led MCC to 61-52 win over the Cougars.
The Cougars jumped out to a commanding 19-6 lead after the first quarter and it looked like the Jayhawks were going to be in for a long night.
Freshman Kendall Zoulek came off the bench to spark the Jayhawks offense tossing in 11 second quarter points and MCC outscored KVCC 27-6 in the second stanza giving the Jayhawks a 33-25 halftime lead.
The two teams battled back and forth in the second half as the Cougars held the upper hand, 18-17 in the third quarter and the Jayhawks held the upper hand, 11-9 in the final 10 minutes of play.
“It was a good come back from behind win tonight,” MCC coach Jason Cooper said. “I’m proud how the team continued to fight throughout the game and pulled out a victory.”
The Jayhawks went 21-of-76 from the field and connected on 5-of-24 from 3-point land while hitting 14-of-25 from the free throw line. MCC hauled down 49 total rebounds and turned over the ball 16 times.
The Cougars were led in scoring by Abigail Long with 18 points.
Four Jayhawks hit for double digits led by Zoulek (Shelby) with 13 points. A trio of Jayhawks tossed in 10 points each, including Calla Miller (Fremont), Emerson Goodin (Newaygo) and Karleigh Jeffries (Whitehall).
Goodin and Jeffries each grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Jayhawks on the boards, while Zoulek and Miller each hauled down 8 rebounds. Goodin had four steals and Miller chipped in with three steals.
Other contributors for the Jayhawks included; Kayla Fisk (Newaygo) with 9 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals; Haley Zerlaut (Fremont) with 4 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal; Yuna Soma (Komaba) with 3 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and Ally Sieber (Reeths-Puffer) with 2 points and 1 assist.
The Jayhawks (4-2) return to action at 1 p.m. Saturday at Southwestern Michigan College.
