#MotorCityMadness Stars of the Day: March 3
Ryan Makush
GAME ONE
Macee Williams, IUPUI: The Horizon League’s Freshman of the Year put in a performance worthy of the billing. Williams scored 14 points off of an efficient six-for-seven shooting night. This was combined with eight assists and four rebounds for the Jaguars low-post threat. The forward also provided crucial contributions in crunch time. With the Jaguars up just one, Williams put them up three with a bucket down low at the 2:43 mark, then snared a big defensive board, and followed that up with two made free throws with just over two minutes remaining coming off an offensive rebound.
Leah Somerfield, Oakland: Somerfield’s capabilities in the offensive and rebounding fields of the game were on full display against the Jaguars. Somerfield knocked down three three-pointers on her way to a team-leading 13 points. Additionally, the Horizon League’s second leading rebounder in the regular season hauled in eight rebounds for the Golden Grizzles.
GAME TWO
Jessica Lindstrom, Green Bay: Allie LeClaire’s 21 points certainly did not go unnoticed, but the Green Bay representative on the Horizon League First Team put in an outstanding performance. Two of Lindstrom’s four three-pointers came in the third quarter where the Phoenix swung a three-point halftime deficit into a seven-point lead after just three and a half minutes of second half play. The league’s leading rebounder also tallied 12 rebounds to go with her 14 points contributing a double-double to her team’s victory.
Molly Glick, Northern Kentucky: There was no question who the Norse’s go-to player was tonight when they needed a shot. The Norse’s leading scorer this season, Glick took a third of her team’s shots (16) en route to a 16-point performance. Twelve of these shots were from downtown with Glick hitting four of them. In addition, Glick handed out three assists in the first half where the Norse mounted a three-point lead on the #21 ranked Phoenix which they took into the half.
GAME THREE
Grant Benzinger, Wright State: Drawing the tough task of being defended by all-defensive team member Khalil Small, Benzinger was only able to get off five field goal attempts. The Norse’s leading scorer was able to make them count, however, going five-for-five, including four-for-four from three. Benzinger ended with 15 points on the evening to go with nine rebounds finishing just one shy of a double-double.
Khalil Small, Green Bay: Green Bay’s senior ‘do-it-all’ guard put in a fantastic performance in his final Motor City Madness outing in green. The senior was 10-for-18 from the field, a perfect 11-for-11 from the free throw line, and also hit three of his six three-point attempts. Small followed up his double-double against Youngstown State with another as he scored 34 points to go along with 11 rebounds.
GAME FOUR
Stefan Kenic, Cleveland State: The Serbian freshman came alive in the second half for the Vikings. Kenic had just three points in the first half, but he heated up following the break going five-for-six in the second half. Kenic’s key moment was with just under two minutes left in the game and the Vikings clinging to a two-point lead. Kenic spotted up in the left corner and knocked down a three to put the Vikings up five. Combined with a Tyree Appleby step-back three on the following possession to put the Vikings up eight, Kenic’s 14-point second half (giving him 17 points on the game) propelled the eight seed Vikings to the upset victory over the one seed Norse.
Drew McDonald, Northern Kentucky: The Norse’s double-double machine was at it again in the quarterfinals. The junior leader tallied his 17
th of the season with 24 points and 13 rebounds for the regular season champions. McDonald showcased the range he has come to be recognized for by hitting two threes, but also showcased some impressive low-post moves highlighting the forward’s varied skill set.