Women struggle with less players, but still play hard

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Photo by Kirsten Schmitt

Head Coach Jeff Lorenz motivates the women during a timeout.

The women’s basketball team currently has three players benched due to ineligibility. This leaves the team shorthanded with only nine players. To participate in athletics at MATC, students must maintain a minimum of 12 credits and pass with at least a 2.0 GPA each semester, according to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA.)

Randy Casey explained, “We lost three girls from our original roster to ineligibility. It was a variety of different things, because they always have to carry 12 credits and they have to pass the 12 at a 2.0, so if for some reason a student gets dropped from a class or something, and they are below 12 credits they are immediately ineligible at that time.”

On Jan. 27, the team faced conference foe Joliet Junior College. Guard Moriah Begin (13) was the high scorer for the game with 19 points and had a team-high 12 rebounds. Begin also had seven steals during the game.

Moriah Begin (13) drives around Hillary Dietahin (55) to the basket.
Photo by Kirsten Schmitt
Moriah Begin (13) drives around Hillary Dietahin (55) to the basket.

During the 45-minute game, Samantha Mosley (21) led the team with 36 minutes played. Tara Jefferson (22) was three for four in free throws.

The women played a close game right up to the end, but it was clear they were running out of gas. Simple mistakes, like dribbling the ball off a foot, hurt them. The women lost 58-49. Their overall record is 12-9 and 4-2 in the conference.