The Anoka-Ramsey Women's Basketball team survived a late comeback by Rainy River to prevail 68-64 on Wednesday afternoon.
The Golden Ram defense stifled Rainy River in the first half, holding the Voyageurs to just three points in the first nine minutes before Rainy River closed the period on a 5-2 spurt to pull within six.
Anoka-Ramsey looked like they'd run away with the game in the second quarter, building a 26-12 lead with 5:35 left.
But Rainy River responded by scoring the next six points, and closing within five.
Rainy River trimmed the deficit to three early in the third quarter. Anoka-Ramsey extended the lead back to nine on twice, first with a Piper Flemming layup, then again with a layup from Bonita Franco. A three from Flemming pushed the lead up to ten points and that's where the Golden Ram lead remained after three quarters.
The Voyageurs weren't done yet though, slowly chipping away at the Golden Ram lead. Hailey Babcock scored to make it an eight point game with 5:50 to go. With the lead still at eight, Rainy River used a 6-0 run to pull within 64-62 with 2:25 to go.
Two free throws from Raiyne Adams extended the lead to four, and Rainy River scored to get back to within two. But a Charo Nickens layup with 18 seconds to play gave Anoka-Ramsey the final cushion they needed as Rainy River committed two late turnovers.
Anoka-Ramsey shot 35.7 percent, and held Rainy River to 33.3 percent, while forcing 24 Voyaguer turnovers.
Nickens led the Golden Rams with 16 points and ten rebounds.
Adams chipped in 12 points, with Madi Peschl scoring nine.
Anoka-Ramsey improves to 9-5 overall and will host Riverland on Saturday, January 11 at 1:00pm in their first MCAC Southern Division game of the season.