WBB Preview: Great Lakes District C Tournament

FLINT, Mich. – After winning their third straight MCCAA State Championship, the No. 13 Mid Michigan College women's basketball team will look to stay hot this weekend. The Lakers will be the No. 1 seed in the NJCAA Region 12 Great Lakes District C Tournament. Mid will play the winner of the GRCC-Southwestern Michigan quarterfinal on Friday, March 7th at 9am, followed by Jackson and Lakeland (Ohio) in the second semifinal at 11am. GRCC and Southwestern Michigan will play tonight (Mar. 4) at 5:30pm. Both the semifinals and championship game on Sunday (Mar. 9) will be played at Ballenger Fieldhouse on the campus of Mott Community College.  

SCOUTING SW MICHIGAN: The Roadrunners finished the regular season with a solid 20-9 overall record and 9-5 mark in MCCAA Western Conference play. SMC defeated GRCC twice during the regular season, securing a 74-69 overtime victory on Jan. 18th, and winning 48-40 at Ford Fieldhouse on Feb. 12th. Rayvan Rush leads the team offensively with 14.2 points per game, while Shiyah Forte averages 10.2 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. Amara Palmer dishes out a team high 3.7 assists per game. 

SCOUTING GRCC: Back on Dec. 21st at Morey Courts, Mid defeated the Raiders 86-36. Tianna Daye led GRCC with 15 points, while Ava Schultz pulled down eight rebounds. GRCC finished the year with a 10-12 overall record and 8-6 mark in the MCCAA West. Daye leads the team in scoring with 13.6 PPG, while Tia Richard averages 13.2 points per contest. Schultz averages 12.4 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. 

SCOUTING JACKSON: The Lakers have seen Jackson twice this season, winning 89-73 on Dec. 4th, and last week in the MCCAA State Semifinals 59-48. The Jets enter the weekend 23-6 overall and 13-1 in the MCCAA Eastern Conference. Despite losing to St. Clair on Jan. 18th, Jackson still claimed the Eastern Conference Championship. Kaylona Butler leads the team with 19.8 PPG, while Michelle McGee averages 17.1 points and 4.3 assists per game. Zoandria Bamm averages a double-double with 14.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per contest. 

SCOUTING LAKELAND: Lakeland finished the year 12-11 overall and 8-6 in the OCCAC, most recently defeating Clark State 70-61 last Saturday. Trinity Jackson leads the team in scoring with 19.7 points per game. She also pulls down 11.9 rebounds per night and dishes out 2.6 assists per game. Not to be confused with the Mid Michigan College Lakers, Lakeland also goes by the Lakers. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Mid has been led all year by the star sophomore duo of Chloe Watson (16.3 PPG, 3.5 APG) and Rachel Resio (16.1 PPG, 3.9 APG). Paige Ebels averages 9.8 points per night while Delaney Seaman isn't far behind with 9.5 PPG. On the glass Jiaryatou Cisse pulls down a team best 6.0 rebounds per game. As a team the Lakers average 93.9 PPG, while holding their opponents to 56.9 PPG. 

UP NEXT: The District Championship game will be played on Sunday, March 9th at 11am inside Ballenger Fieldhouse on the campus of Mott Community College.