March 7, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Community College women's basketball team is heading back to the regional semi-finals for the sixth straight year after a 53-44 win over Muskegon Community College on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the men's season came to end after a 78-68 defeat to Delta College, ending a six-game win streak. The team, which won 11 straight games to begin the season, finished the year 21-8.
For the eleventh time this season, the stingy women's defense - ranked third best in the league - held their opponent under 50 points. It also held Muskegon to just 20.9 percent from the field.
Marlene Bussler led the team with 15 points, including three of the team's seven made three-point shots. Grace Lodes, 13 points, 12 rebounds, finished with the game's lone double-double. Karissa Ferry totaled 11 rebounds.
“Extremely proud of the effort defensively tonight,” coach David Glazier said. “They played as one tonight on both ends of the floor. I’m happy for our sophomores, who get to continue adding to what they have already accomplished at GRCC.”
The women's team will move on to the semi-finals of the Great Lakes B District Tournament to face Jackson College on March 9 at 6:30 p.m. Jackson is the tournament's No. 1 seed after winning the Eastern Conference.
Mott Community College plays host to both the semi-finals and the finals. If GRCC wins, the championship game will be March 11 at 6 p.m.
The men's team turned the ball over an uncharacteristic 16 times and shot just 43.3 percent from the field. Delta's 26 free throw attempts -- to just four for the Raiders -- might have been the biggest difference in the game.
Danyel Bibbs finished his outstanding two-year career at GRCC with a 19-point, 10-rebound, six-assist performance. Sophomore teammate Myron Brewer finished with 15 points and seven rebounds, while freshman guard B.J. Neely went 8-of-12 from the field for 17 points.
This story was reported by Ben Brown.