The most dramatic game of the 1A Round of 16 was the battle of M-C (8-seed, 10-15) and Randolph (9-seed, 12-14). The Cougars hit four mid-first-half threes to lead 22-12. That edge was dwindled to 27-21 by halftime. Out of intermission, the Rockets went on a 14-0 run to lead 35-27. M-C struggled offensively (0-6 FGs, 7 TOs). The Cougars fought back into it late. Payton Danielson’s hustling offensive-rebound, and subsequent baseline-jumper, tied the game at 39 (3:20). The basket also gave the 5’4” six-year senior guard 1,580 career points. She passed Coranda Vickerman (1,578) as the Cougars all-time leading scorer. Her make was M-C’s last. Randolph went 14 straight possessions late without a point (0-10 FGs, 0-1 FTs, 4 TOs). Then came their last possession. They passed out the final 1:02, getting an off-balanced, not-in-the-flow, game-winning three from Megan Erickson at the buzzer for the 42-39 win! Lauren Wyffels had a team-high for M-C (16 pts, 3-7 threes). She fouled out with around 5:00 left. Danielson had a big double-double (15 pts, 15 rebs, 4 stls). Erickson had 23 points (3-7 threes) to lead the Rockets. M-C’s finishes at 10-16. The Cougars won an earlier meeting 49-45.
Cougars Fall on Buzzer-Beater, Danielson Sets Scoring Record
