Lady Pioneers Win Third Straight

University Center, MI -  The Delta College women's team won their third straight contest on Wednesday night, knocking off a scrappy Oakland Community College team, 73-70.  The win puts the Pioneers at 10-6 overall and 3-1 in the conference, just a single game back of first place Schoolcraft.

Both teams traded the lead several times throughout the first half as the Pioneers continued to break the Oakland press for easy layups while Oakland pounded the offensive boards and scored multiple times on putbacks.  Delta eventually took a five point lead with a minute left, but an Oakland three pointer drew the visitors back within striking distance.  After nailing a pair of free throws and taking a four point lead with under twenty seconds left, another Oakland three-pointer made it a one point game. 

The Pioneers responded, though, with a fast break bucket of their own to get the lead back to three.  With time running out, Oakland once again came within a point before Jayde Abenth iced the game at the line nailing a pair of free throws with less than a second left.  Oakland was unable to launch a final shot.

"It feels good as a coach when you come up with a game plan and your players execute it," said head coach Kelly Miller.  "(We) worked hard at practice on the things we needed to do better and implemented them into tonight's game."

"Oakland is a strong team with good guard play and we knew we had to limit their penetration.  What the score board doesn't show is execution.  We had a game plan and we stuck to it and executed it from start to finish."

Four Pioneers scored in double digits led by Lauren Rogers' 19 points and nine rebounds.  Abenth (15 points), Jenna Szostak (14 points) and Shallon Graywey (10 points) added to balanced scoring attack. 

"Four players in double figures shows that were not a one dimensional team," said Miller.   "We stepped up and made free throws down the stretch, too.  That helped."

Delta went 13 of 18 from the charity stripe, all in the second half.   The Pioneers next travel to Dearborn on Saturday where they will play Henry Ford Community College.  The Hawks are current 2-13 on the season and 1-2 in conference play.

"Tonight's game showed the progress that we always talk about, making strides to become better each practice and game," said Miller.

Tip off for Saturdays game is scheduled for 1pm.