Bay College freshman Makenna Hendrickson (1) attempts a 3-point shot against Gogebic Community College on Nov. 20, 2024 at the Bay College Gymnasium. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

ESCANABA — Bay College’s defense held down the fort until its offense got untracked in an 86-55 women’s basketball triumph over the Gogebic Community College Samsons here Wednesday night.

Clinging to a 46-42 late in the third quarter, the Norse distanced themselves with a 10-2 run, gaining a 56-44 cushion on a layup by freshman guard Anisa Longs with 20 seconds remaining in the third.

Bay outscored Gogebic 10-2 in the first three minutes of the fourth frame, surging to a 66-46 advantage on a free throw by sophomore guard Kennedy Sproule.

“I think we’re getting better defensively,” she said. “We got a lot of energy off the bench which helped us out. It’s very important for us to get as many wins as we can to get our energy rolling.”

The Norse (2-3), who played for the first time since Nov. 9 and ended a two-game losing streak, continued to widen their lead which reached 86-52 on a jumper from top of the key by freshman guard Kadie Kaukola late in the contest.

“We just started playing harder,” Bay freshman guard Anna Axtell said. “Everybody on our team can play. We don’t usually have to think about getting tired. I think we all realized we had to pick it up. I think we were a little rusty and flat early. I got into foul trouble early, but once I got back on the floor, I got into a rhythm.”

Gogebic (0-6), which trailed 38-31 at halftime, stayed close through much of the third stanza.

Sophomore guard Melissa DiGiorgio sank a 20-foot set shot from the left wing in the opening moments of the third quarter to bring the Samsons within 38-34.

The Norse gained a 44-34 lead on a pair of gifters by freshman guard Makenna Hendrickson before DiGiorgio brought Gogebic within 44-39 on a layup midway through the third.

Sproule answered with a layup for a 46-39 cushion with 3:35 left in the third before the Samsons closed within four points.

DiGiorgio gave the Samsons an early 8-6 lead by driving the baseline for a layup.

Bay responded with nine unanswered points for a 15-8 lead.

A 20-foot set shot by DiGiorgio brought the Samsons within 18-15 late in the opening frame.

The Norse answered with a 5-0 run for a 23-15 lead going into the second.

Bay again threatened to break open the game when Axtell scored on a putback for a 32-21 cushion with 2:35 remaining in the second.

The Samsons, however, didn’t just go away as sophomore guard Kate Borseth drained a leaning 23-foot jumper from the left wing to bring them within 35-29 late in the second.

Sproule, who sank four 3-point shots, led the Norse with 23 points and eight rebounds. Axtell added 18 points and nine boards. Sophomore forward Jada Fruedinger chipped in with 11 points and eight rebounds and Bark River-Harris graduate Mckenzie Hoffmeyer had 10 points.

DiGiorgio paced the Samsons with 21 points. Borseth tallied 12 points and four assists and freshman guard Brooke Stanislawski had 10 points.

Powers North Central grad Gracie Kleikamp played eight minutes in a reserve role for the Samsons.

“This is different for me being from this area, going to school up there (in Ironwood) and playing this close to home,” Kleikamp said. “This is not like high school ball at all. The pace is a lot faster. We’ve been playing some pretty good teams. A bunch of us are feeling under the weather. I’ve been battling a head cold. I think we hung with them pretty well for a while. We just have to work real hard on everything in practice. Turnovers and our free throw shooting (9-of-22) hurt us. We also have to work on our rebounding.”

The Norse finished with a 48-33 rebounding advantage. They outscored the Samsons 50-22 in the paint, hit 35-of-85 field goals and committed just nine turnovers. The Samsons were 19-of-54 from the floor and had 22 miscues.

Bay travels to Minneapolis to face Lake Region State (N.D.) College Saturday, then travels to Ironwood for a rematch with the Samsons Tuesday.

Box score

Gogebic C.C. 15 16 13 11 — 55

Bay College 23 15 18 30 — 86

Gogebic Community College — Borseth 12, DiGorgio 21, Legault 7, Stanislawski 10, Besonen 1, Saari 4. FT: 9-22; F: 11; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Borseth 3, DiGorgio 3, Stanislawski 2.

Bay College — Hendrickson 7, Axtell 18, Sproule 23, Zawada 9, Freudinger 11, Kaukola 6, Longs 2, Hoffmeyer 10. FT: 8-12; F: 22; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Sproule 4, Kaukola 2, Axtell, Zawada.