MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Milwaukee Area Technical College women's basketball delivered one of its most complete first halves of the season on Sophomore Day, defeating College of DuPage 78–48 on Tuesday evening. The double‑digit victory moved the Stormers back above .500 at 12–11 overall and 7–4 at home while extending their winning streak to two games.

"I'm glad that we won, but I'm not happy with how we played in the second half," MATC head coach Arom Murrell said. "The first half was good, we took advantage of things and got out to a large lead, but the second half was just the polar opposite."

Before tipoff, MATC honored its three sophomores: forward Rachel Schlies, who has been part of the program for three seasons after missing most of last year with injury, and transfers Moriah Landry and Lacee Rodriguez, both in their first year with the Stormers. All three played meaningful roles in a defensive effort that dictated the early tone.

"All three were key players in different areas tonight," Murrell said. "They are very much appreciated for all the contributions they've provided all year long, especially with such a large number of freshmen on the roster. I have absolutely no complaints about our sophomores, and I hate that I'll have to see them go."

To begin, MATC opened the game with a 22–12 first quarter built on defensive pressure and efficient scoring. Woolridge scored the first three points of the game, and freshman guard Sa'Nyai Mitchell followed with a three from the right wing to make it 6–0. The Stormers forced four turnovers in the opening three minutes and held DuPage without a made field goal until the 7:20 mark. Emani Summers added a pair of early baskets, and Rodriguez knocked down a jumper as MATC controlled the pace from the start.

MATC completely seized control in the second quarter, turning the game into a runaway with a dominant 23–7 stretch that pushed the lead to 45–19 by halftime. The Stormers overwhelmed DuPage defensively, forcing 12 turnovers in the period and allowing only three made field goals as part of a first half in which the Chaparrals managed just seven total. That pressure fueled a 13–0 advantage in points off turnovers in the quarter alone, while MATC also owned the interior with a 16–4 edge in paint scoring. Mitchell and Summers powered the offense during the surge, combining for 13 points on 5‑for‑8 shooting and adding four more at the free‑throw line as the Stormers built a cushion they would carry the rest of the night.

"We were able to advance the ball with pace," Mitchell said of the second‑quarter surge. "We were sharing the ball and running the floor. We did a good job finishing our opportunities during that stretch."

The second half told a different story. MATC shot just 2‑for‑18 from the field in the third quarter and committed 11 turnovers after halftime, allowing DuPage to slow the game's rhythm even as the margin remained comfortable. The Stormers struggled to generate clean looks and often settled for rushed attempts despite holding a sizable lead.

"With a lead like that, you look for us to be more patient on offense," Murrell said. "I didn't think we executed our offense in the second half. We looked rushed, which we didn't have any reason to be. I don't think we shared the ball like we should have."

Despite the uneven second half, Mitchell led the Stormers by tying her career high with 19 points, matching the mark she first set on Dec. 18, 2025, against Blackhawk Technical College. She finished 5‑for‑9 from the field, a perfect 3‑for‑3 from deep, and added three assists while steadying the offense for 37 minutes.

"I couldn't have tied my career high tonight without my sophomores," Mitchell said. "They helped find me for multiple scoring opportunities, and I couldn't have done it without their help."

Summers followed with an efficient 18 points on 8‑for‑12 shooting, contributing seven rebounds, three steals and two assists in another strong two‑way outing. Woolridge controlled the interior with 11 rebounds, five blocks and seven points, giving MATC a physical anchor in the paint. Rodriguez added eight points and four boards, while Schlies delivered 10 points, six rebounds and three steals off the bench in her Sophomore Day appearance. Sellers chipped in eight points and six rebounds, and Hamiel added four points, four assists and three steals to round out a balanced team effort.

As a team, MATC shot 42.3 percent from the field. Defensively, the Stormers forced 25 turnovers, recorded eight blocks and collected 14 steals while scoring consistently in transition.

Looking ahead, Murrell believes the group is positioned to finish strong with seven regular‑season games remaining.

"I think the remaining six or seven games that we have, we'll find ourselves in a pretty good position when it's all said and done," he said.

UP NEXT
MATC (12–11) returns home Thursday to host Joliet Junior College at 6 p.m. for its Black History Month Recognition Game.