After a slow start to their season the Madison College women’s basketball team has gone 4-2 in its last six games. 

“We started off really slow, and we faced two really good teams.  But we have been playing better as of late,” said Madison College coach Lois Heeren

So, what has changed since the first game?

“We are just playing together,” she said.

Another thing that has changed for the WolfPack is the pace of the game.  They are looking to start out every game fast. 

“It is always important to get out to a good start, and turn up the heat with our defense.”

Still, the one thing coach Heeren would like to see is fewer turnovers. 

“We have just got to do a better job of valuing the basketball,” she said.

Through the first seven games, the WolfPack have turned the ball over 197 times.  That is an average of 28 turnovers a game. 

Madison College went into the Anoka-Ramsey Community College tournament with a 0-1 record.  While at the tournament they went 1-1 and at one point had a four-game winning streak. 

Madison College’s four game winning streak came to an end when they traveled to Sugar Grove, Ill., to face host Waubonsee Community College and lost 63-44.

Madison College got out to a slow start, only scoring seven points in the first quarter.  Through the next three quarters the WolfPack would pick up the pace scoring 13 in the second, 11 in the third, and 13 in the fourth half. But that was just not enough. 

Sophomore Mrylena Stewart led the WolfPack in scoring with 13 points in 30-minutes of play.  Close behind was freshman Kyianna Baker with 11 points and 11 rebounds for her fourth career double-double.  The WolfPack also had a season low of turnovers with 21, while also having a season high four blocks.

The first game of the Anoka-Ramsey Community College tournament had Madison College playing against the tournament host and losing, 78-59, on Nov. 8.  Madison College got out to a quick start scoring 51 points in the first three quarters. But in the fourth quarter, the WolfPack ran out of gas and only scored eight points, while Anoka-Ramsey scored 27.  Sophomore Aniah Williams led the team in scoring with 18 points. 

Madison College’s first win of the season came one day later when they played St. Cloud Technical & Community College.  The WolfPack got out to a quick start, scoring 26 points in the first quarter.  The WolfPack were led by freshman Julia Bruns and Williams, both with 14 points. 

Madison College continued its winning ways when beat host Sauk Valley Community College, 78-62, on Nov. 12.  Only scoring four points in the first quarter, Madison College had to dig down if they wanted to win. 

That is just what they did, going on to score 22 points in the second quarter while only allowing Sauk Valley to score nine points.  With the momentum going their way the WolfPack went on to score 52 points in the second half.  Williams once again led the WolfPack with 24 points. 

The WolfPack again needed to rally from a slow start at Carl Sandburg College to win 65-54 on Nov. 16.  This time there was two quarters that the WolfPack struggled to score in. A strong defensive effort and a 24-point fourth quarter made all the difference. 

Back in Madison, the WolfPack came out fast and beat the College of Lake County, 72-53, on Nov. 19. Madison College scored first and didn’t look back the entire game.  Williams had 20 points to led the WolfPack, while Stewart had 17.