MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Sophomore forward
Moriah Landry turned in a career performance with 24 points and 19 rebounds, including 12 on the offensive glass, but Milwaukee Area Technical College fell 88-71 at home to Waubonsee on Monday night. The Stormers were outscored 23-14 in the opening quarter and 24-14 in the fourth, decisive stretches that proved too much to overcome as MATC dropped to 3-5 overall.
"I know Landry is more than capable of a career night like this," MATC head coach
Arom Murrell said. "I just wish she had more support when she plays at that level. It was a phenomenal effort, but unfortunately it went for nothing. Hats off to her for putting in that kind of work and competing hard all game."
The Stormers closed the opening quarter in stark contrast to how they began it. MATC set the tone early with a 5-0 run, only for Waubonsee to answer with five straight of its own. The teams traded baskets as the Stormers held a slim 14-13 lead. But with 3:30 remaining, MATC went cold, missing its final six shots and committing a turnover, while Waubonsee capitalized by going 3-for-5 from the field and 3-for-3 at the line to finish the quarter on a decisive 10-0 run.
MATC's offense continued to stagger in the second quarter, shooting just 7-of-20 from the field to trail 33-23 at halftime. The Stormers found new life to open the third behind the interior dominance of freshman center Zihre Sellers and Landry, who combined for 16 points on a perfect 8-for-8 shooting with 10 rebounds, including seven on the offensive glass. Their third-quarter efforts fueled a 9-2 run that cut the deficit to 45-42 and eventually helped force a tie at 55. Waubonsee answered in the closing minutes, however, closing the quarter on a decisive 9-2 spurt highlighted by multiple layups and a 3-pointer to regain control heading into the fourth.
"We used a lot of energy to cut the 10-point deficit down to two," Murrell said. "We ended the quarter down seven, so we were able to take three points off their lead. But we just seemed a step slower. We knew they had smaller, faster guards, yet they got to all their spots and our rotations were late. We didn't compete, and I felt like we checked out and went on vacation early."
The Stormers did their best to try and regroup in the final quarter, hitting 7 of 15 shot attempts, but they couldn't overcome several costly turnovers that allowed Waubonsee to remain in control up until sealing the 17-point win.
MATC finished the game shooting 40 percent (30-of-74), including just 2-of-16 from beyond the arc. The Stormers held a dominant 22-6 advantage in second-effort points, but it wasn't enough to offset 24 turnovers that led to 26 Waubonsee points.
"We have to figure out a way to build our mental toughness," Murrell said. "It's definitely an issue — our willingness and desire to compete and push through. It felt like groundhog day out there, the same thing happening over and over again."
Landry paced MATC with her third double-double of the season — and second straight — posting a career-high 24 points and 19 rebounds, 12 of them offensive. Her 5.7 offensive rebounds per game currently rank tied for 11th nationally in NJCAA Division II.
Freshman guard
Emani Summers added 16 points on 8-of-15 shooting, along with six rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block. Sophomore forward
Rachel Schlies contributed 12 points, seven rebounds and three steals.
Freshman
Sa'Nyai Mitchell and Sellers chipped in seven points apiece, with Sellers also pulling down 11 rebounds.
UP NEXT
MATC (3-5) will take some time off before hosting Oakton at 5 p.m. on Dec. 9.