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ESCANABA---The Bay College Norse women's basketball team won its 16th straight game Wednesday night, beating the Kirtland Community College Firebirds, 89-49, on Sophomore Night at the Bay College Gym.

The Norse raced to a 30-8 lead after the first quarter and led 56-18 at halftime before coasting to the victory. Norse Coach Todd Ciochetto was happy to just get out with a win in a game that saw 51 free throw attempts, 35 of them by the Firebirds.
 

“The game wasn't controlled, and they go to the free throw line so many times,” Ciochetto said. “You can't play a game when it's so choppy like that. I just think, and their coach agreed, that it was just a bad game all around. I was just saying, don't get hurt. Don't do anything stupid and don't get hurt. It was just an out-of-control game.”

What did he like about the game?

“Nothing,” Ciochetto said. “Just the final buzzer. That it was over.”

The Norse rested center Jada Freudinger, who has been sick and has been nursing an injury recently. And Leah Allan, who's also banged up, played 19 minutes only because it was Sophomore Night. In the end, Bay got the win it needed to stay one game ahead of Mid Michigan for first place in the MCCAA North Conference standings with a battle looming next Tuesday night in Mt. Pleasant.

“It's almost impossible to play well in a game like that, with all of the circumstances,” Ciochetto said. “From Sophomore Night, to different people starting, to Jada being out, to other circumstances that we can't control. There were a couple of times where we almost got hurt stepping under our feet on the landing. I didn't even want to shoot anymore. I just wanted to get out of there.”

Bay got a double-double of 26 points and ten rebounds from Siena Lingle, and she had five steals on defense. But she fouled out of the game, something that Ciochetto says she needs to work to avoid. Lingle shot an impressive 10-of-13 from the floor.
 

Ashlee Burchette, the reigning MCCAA North Conference Player of the Week, had a game-high 27 points, with six steals and five assists. Kennedy Sproule added 22 points as she made six three-point baskets. She also grabbed six rebounds.

Kirtland (3-14 overall, 2-9 MCCAA) was led by a double-double from Mariya Mathieu, who had 16 points and pulled down ten rebounds.

Ernestina Arthur chipped in 13 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double, and Hannah Peel contributed eleven points.

The Norse, ranked in the national poll for the first time in school history at Number 19, won for the 16th straight time after a 4-7 start to the season. Bay is now 20-7 overall and 12-0 in MCCAA play. The Norse remain one game ahead of Mid Michigan (11-1 MCCAA, 23-1 overall) for first place, with a battle between the two teams set for next Tuesday in Mt. Pleasant.

The MCC Lakers appear to have the third tirebreaker in their favor, so if the two teams finish tied, Mid Michigan wins the conference title.

Before Tuesday's battle, though, the Norse have another tough road game in Saginaw against the Delta County Pioneers (6-12 overall, 5-6 MCCAA) who are battling to hold on to fourth place in the conference standings. Game time is 1:00 on Saturday, and it will be broadcast live on Maverick 106.3 and on-line through the AUDIO link at www.baynorse.com.