The Ridgewater College women's basketball team (1–2) battled through a challenging MCAC Crossover weekend, finishing with a 1–1 split after matchups against Minnesota North College–Itasca and nationally ranked Northland Community College.
Warriors Dominate Itasca Behind Strong Freshman Performances
On Friday, Ridgewater hit the road to Grand Rapids and exploded to a commanding 29–5 first-quarter lead over the Itasca Vikings. The Warriors maintained control throughout the first half, taking a 47–19 advantage into the break before closing out a convincing 74–44 victory.
Freshman guard Madison Norsten, from Willmar, MN, led the charge with 18 points on an efficient 8–for-14 shooting performance. She added seven rebounds and five steals to her standout night. Fellow freshman Aly Wendlandt contributed 15 points and three assists, while freshman guard Kyra Jensen dominated the glass with a team-high 10 rebounds and also recorded five steals. Ridgewater capitalized on Itasca's mistakes all evening, scoring 38 of their points off 32 Viking turnovers.
Tough Second Quarter Buries Warriors Against Nationally Ranked Northland
Saturday's contest brought a tougher challenge as Ridgewater traveled to Thief River Falls to face Northland Community College, ranked No. 3 in the NJCAA Division III national poll. The Warriors opened the game strong, ending the first quarter tied 19–19. But a difficult second quarter shifted momentum drastically, with Northland outscoring Ridgewater 33–8 to take a 52–27 lead into halftime.
Despite their efforts, the Warriors couldn't recover, falling 81–50. Wendlandt led Ridgewater with 10 points and nine rebounds, while Norsten added 13 points and six boards.
Looking Ahead
Ridgewater now sits at 2–3 on the season and returns to action Thursday with a road trip to Estherville, Iowa, to face the Lakers from Iowa Lakes Communtiy College. The Warriors will then play at home on Friday for the first time this season as they host Rainy River.