Click the thumbnails for photos and videos, and to hear post-game comments from Alaina Trudeau and Coach Matt Gregory. Also click to hear a player spotlight interview with Bay's Emma Rutter and Alpena's Shae Lampinen.

ESCANABA---The Bay College Norse women's basketball team picked up its biggest win of the season Wednesday night, turning back the Alpena Community College Lumberjacks, 51-41, at the Bay College Gym.

The win kept the Norse playoff hopes alive, pulling the team even with the Lumberjacks for the final Michigan Community College Athletic Association playoff spot. Both teams are now 4-6 in conference play, with four games left in the season.
 

“We had players who were moving the ball really, really nicely, making the extra pass, passing up good shots for great shots,” Norse Coach Matt Gregory said. “It was all about a team effort, especially on defense. And it was really, really good to see us control the pace of the game. Sometimes, we want to just go, go, go, go, go. I like the fact that we kind of found ways to pull it off, and just be more poised and more balanced.”

The Norse lost the previous meeting, 60-53, in Alpena, on Jan. 25, as Lumberjack center Jade Schultz threw down 31 points. This time, Schultz was held to 19 points, which still led her team, but the Norse had someone they didn't have last time: Alaina Trudeau.

The Gladstone High School graduate hurt her knee during a game in Florida in early January, and after a brief appearance in last Saturday's loss against Grand Rapids, she played the whole way against Alpena. Trudeau scored a game-high 25 points, knocking down five three-point shots along the way.

“We moved the ball really well, and we all knew it was a must-win for us to still be able to make the playoffs, and we got it done,” Trudeau said. “It was rough being out for a month, and not being able to do anything, and then, being on crutches for two weeks. But I'm finally finding my rhythm again and it feels good to be back, for sure.”
 

Trudeau set the tone early by making three of her triples in the first quarter as the Norse took a 15-12 lead, then Alyssa Cretton made her presence known in the second quarter.

The Niagara School graduate had a blocked shot, grabbed the ball, and drove the length of the court for a basket. A moment later, she got a steal and drove the other way for another hoop. Cretton ended up with 16 points and ten rebounds for a double-double.

Trudeau knocked down two more triples in the third quarter, and took a sweet pass from Cretton for another basket, and Trudeau sank all six of her free throw attempts.

Besides Schultz's 19 points, Ally Derocher added 12 for Alpena, which fell to 6-11 overall, and 4-6 in MCCAA play. The Norse are 8-16 overall, also 4-6 in the MCCAA.

Alpena on Saturday will be at home against second place Grand Rapids (7-3, 13-7 overall). The Norse on Saturday will make the longest trip of the season, to Muskegon, to face the fourth place Lumberjacks. Muskegon is 6-4 in conference play, and 15-8 overall. Bay will be looking to avenge a 56-28 loss they suffered on January 21st.

“It's a quick turnaround,” Gregory said. “We'll get to watch some film on Muskegon, and see what we can do differently to put in a better showing this time.”

Saturday's game starts at 1:00 and will be broadcast live on FM-106.3 and on-line at www.radioresultsnetwork.com.