The Anoka-Ramsey Community College Women's Basketball team split their two weekend games in the ARCC Holiday Classic to finish 2018 with a 9-3 record.
Mikayla Homola scored 37 points making 14 of 23 shots and 5 of 10 threes in a 90-82 loss to Bismarck State on Friday night.
The Golden Rams led 21-17 after a Homola three with 1:48 to go in the first quarter before Bismarck State responded with a 13-7 spurt for a 30-28 lead.
The Mystics continued to lead throughout the second quarter and went ahead 45-35 with 2:32 left before halftime.
Homola ran off five straight followed by two Adaya Sandifer free throws, and a layup by Homola for a 9-0 run as the Golden Rams trailed 49-46 at halftime.
Homola continued the hot shooting to start the second half bookending a layup from the Mystics with two threes for a 52-51 lead.
The teams remained within one possesion of each other for the rest of the third quarter until two more Sandifer free throws and a layup by Nickens put Anoka-Ramsey up 71-64 entering the fourth.
Abby Howe began the fourth quarter with a three and the Golden Rams led 74-64. But the Mystics didn't quit, using a 9-0 run to pull within one, then took a 78-76 lead with 5:33 left.
Charo Nickens made one of two free throws to pull back within one, but the Mystics rattled off a 12-5 run to end the game.
Sandifer chipped in 16 points on 5 of 11 shooting and Chyanne Nickens scored 12 points.
The Golden Rams were outrebounded 48-24 including 19-8 on the offensive glass.
On Saturday afternoon the Golden Rams never trailed in defeating the University of St. Thomas JV team 65-48.
A slow first quarter saw Anoka-Ramsey take a 11-7 lead after holding the Tommies to just 11.1 percent shooting (2 of 18).
The Golden Rams began to assert themselves offensively with a Homola layup followed by two Charo Nickens free throws for a 15-7 lead, then Homola scored again with a jumper by Sandifer and the Golden Rams were up 19-7.
St. Thomas chipped away and pulled to within 24-21 but Anoka-Ramsey closed the first half on a 10-0 run to lead 34-21 at halftime. Homola scored five in the run to go with a three from Chyanne Nickens and a jumper from Charo Nickens.
The run continued into the third period as Homolo and Chyanne Nickens combined to scored the first seven points for a 41-21 lead.
This time the Tommies could not mount a significant comeback as lead remained at 16 and above through the rest of the game.
Anoka-Ramsey held St. Thomas to just 30.4 percent shooting including 3 of 25 from the three-point line.
Anoka-Ramsey enters the break at 9-3 and will host Hibbing on January 4th.
