Grand Rapids, MI – GRCC’s women’s basketball team will get their first taste of MCCAA West Conference play as they hit the road to face a tough Kalamazoo Valley Cougar team this Saturday, January 5^th, 2013.

Saturday’s contest, while the first conference contest of the season, is the third of six straight away games for the Raiders.

At 2-7 overall, GRCC’s homesick Raiders will again have their hands full against the nationally ranked #14, 9-1 Cougars.

After the first half of the 2012-13 season, GRCC is led in scoring by Stephanie Stevens and Danielle Goad.  Stevens is averaging 12.9 points per game with 4.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists.

Goad’s contribution thus far averages 10.6 points per game with 6.3 rebounds, second only to Danielle Harrison with 8.4 rebounds per game.

Katie Mitchell leads the Raiders in assists per game with an average of 4.3 on the year.

Kalamazoo’s Cougars are led by freshman Khadijah Seawood and  sophomore Breanna Birmingham.  Seawood’s 10.9 points per game average combined with a team high 7.1 rebounds per game and 1.8 blocks makes her a tough matchup.

Birmingham adds 9.7 points per game in addition to 6.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists to the Cougar’s squad in 2013.

A Raider win would end a five game losing streak and help to propel GRCC up from the bottom of the MCCAA West standings.  A win for Kalamazoo would leave them at 10-1 and on a eight game win streak.

Rested and ready following the holidays, expect the Raiders to send their best southbound down 131 and hustle for the upset win.