WBB PREVIEW: MCCAA State Tournament

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – After finishing the regular season 24-4 overall and 12-2 in the MCCAA Northern Conference, the No. 11 Mid Michigan College women's basketball team has earned a berth into the MCCAA State Semifinals on Friday (Feb. 28). The Northern Conference champion Lakers will take on MCCAA Eastern Conference champion Jackson, with the winner advancing to the MCCAA State Championship game against Western Champion Lansing Community College at 1 p.m. Saturday (March 1). 

Both games will be played at LCC, with the Stars serving as the host school. Lansing earned the bye into the title game as the host institution. 

SCOUTING JACKSON: The No. 16 Jets enter the weekend 23-5 overall and 13-1 in MCCAA Eastern Conference play. Mid defeated the Jets, 89-73, on Dec. 4 inside Morey Courts. Players to watch include Kaylona Butler (19.9 points per game) and Michelle McGee (17.0 PPG and 4.5 assists per game). Zoandria Bamm averages 14.8 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. Most recently, Jackson earned a 74-73 overtime victory over Macomb on Tuesday (Feb. 25) night. 

SCOUTING LANSING: No. 15 LCC carries a record of 25-4 overall and a perfect 14-0 in MCCAA Western Conference action. The Stars have not lost since the start of the new year. Back on Dec. 18th at Morey Courts, the Lakers beat the Stars, 91-73. Kara Bartels leads the team in scoring at 15.4 points per game to go with 9.4 rebounds per game. Brianna Clark averages 12.7 points per contest. Claire Tobias dishes out a team high 3.1 assists per game. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: The Lakers are led by the sophomore duo of Chloe Watson (16.1 PPG) and Rachel Resio (15.7 PPG). Paige Ebels averages 10.2 points per game and Jiaryatou Cisse has 6.1 rebounds per game. As a team, Mid averages 95.5 points per contest, while holding their opponents to 56.5 PPG.

UP NEXT: Following the MCCAA State Tournament, the Lakers will gear up for the NJCAA Great Lakes District C Tournament at Ballenger Field House hosted by Mott Community College.  As the No. 1 seed, Mid has earned a bye into the semifinals, and will face the winner of the GRCC-Southwestern Michigan quarterfinal game. The Raiders and Roadrunners will play on Tuesday (March 4) at 7 p.m., with the Lakers awaiting the winner at 9 a.m. on Friday, March 7.