The Anoka-Ramsey Community College Women's Basketball team finished non-conference play with a 73-49 win over Hibbing, before falling 71-49 to NDSCS this past weekend.

Vs. Hibbing (W 73-49)

The Golden Rams used a big third quarter to pull away from the Cardinals.

After an evenly played first half that saw the Golden Rams take a 25-20 lead into the break, Anoka-Ramsey jumped on the Cardinals in the third quarter by outscoring them 30-13.

Hibbing had pulled within 33-29 with six minutes left in the period before the Golden Rams went on a 19-2 run over just four minutes to take a 52-31 lead.

Makayla Paggen scored eight of the Golden Ram points during the run including two three-pointers as Anoka-Ramsey led 55-33 going into the final period.

A jumper from Rashonna Thomas pushed the lead to 61-34.

The lead ballooned to 30 points following a Paggen free throw with 1:54 to play before Hibbing made six free throws to end the game.

Anoka-Ramsey shot 44.1 percent including 13 of 20 (60 percent) in the third period.

Hibbing committed 25 turnovers which led to 27 points for the Golden Rams.

Five players scored in double figures with Za'Keea Sa'eed-El and Daron Mainville each scoring 13 points.

Thomas, Lexus Hughes, and Eryn Eilertson each scored ten points.  Hughes also pulled in ten rebounds for her first double-double of the season.

Paggen finished with nine points and seven rebounds.

Vs. NDSCS (L 71-49)

Much like the first meeting between the two, the Golden Rams fought valiantly throughout the game with NDSCS using a strong fourth quarter to pull away.

Defense ruled the first quarter as neither team could connect on many shots.  Anoka-Ramsey shot just 21.4 percent to 26.7 percent for the Wildcats as they led 12-9 after the first period.

Anoka-Ramsey pulled within 15-14 with eight minutes left in the second period after a three-pointer from Rashonna Thomas.

An 11-4 spurt from the Wildcats pushed the lead to 26-18.

Trailing 30-20, Sa'eed-El would score on a layup, and back-to-back three-pointers from Eilertson and Paggen would cut the deficit to 30-28 at halftime.

Sa'eed-El would connect on a three-pointer with five minutes left in the third period to keep the deficit at two points, but the Wildcats would score the next eight points to build a ten point lead with 1:33 to play and settle with a 47-38 lead entering the fourth quarter.

The Wildcats would find cracks in the Golden Ram defense throughout the fourth period and the Golden Rams couldn't keep pace as NDSCS built a 20 point lead.

Anoka-Ramsey finished the night shooting just 25 percent from the field.

Sa'eed-El scored 12 points and Paggen finished with 11.

The Golden Rams are 10-5 and open MCAC Southern Division play on Wednesday when they host M|State Fergus Falls at 8pm.