Feb. 9, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Community College women's basketball team's eight game win streak was snapped Wednesday by the first place Jackson College, 60-55, while the men's team also suffered a five-point loss, 79-74.
Both teams struggled from the field with the women shooting 29.4% from the floor, including 3 of 22 from behind the arc, while the men shot 38.8% overall from the field.
Sally Merrill led the Raiders with 12 points and 6 rebounds. Grace Lodes knocked in 10 points and grabbed 8 boards while Karissa Ferry added 9 points and 8 rebounds.
"Even without the outcome we wanted, I was proud of the way the kids battled, the way they fought, the way they never accepted a deficit as being too much," women’s team coach David Glazier said. "Moving forward for Saturday and beyond, the players and coaches have to find ways to be more consistent."
GRCC is now 13-8 overall and 9-2 in the conference. Jackson now has a two-game lead in the MCCAA Western Conference, improving to 15-4 and 12-1 in the conference.
GRCC's men's team was ahead once all night and trailed by 22 with 9:29 left in the game. The defense picked up and forced many Jackson turnovers down the stretch, managing to make it just a five-point game with 42 seconds left. But the team wasn’t able to connect on its final four shots.
"I was happy that our guys fought back and made it competitive at the end, but I was disappointed that it took 30 minutes of game action to bring the energy and attitude we needed," Coach Joe Fox said. "We need to come back Saturday with 40 minutes of good basketball."
Drew Moore and Danyel Bibbs each scored 19 points while shooting 50% or better from the field. Ryel Daye had the Raiders only double-double, with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
The loss dropped the Raiders to 9-15 overall and 4-9 in the conference. Jackson improved to 15-8 and 8-5 in the conference.
Both teams will play on the road on Feb. 12 against Lansing Community College. The women start at 1 p.m., with the men’s game following at 3 p.m.