Grand Rapids, MI – GRCC's men's and women's basketball teams host Delta College's Pioneers tonight at 5:30PM and 7:30PM in a MCCAA East vs. West battle.
GRCC's women's squad enters the game at 0-6 facing a tough 7-1 Pioneer team who have won five straight following a loss on the road to Glen Oaks. While this matchup is not the friendliest when looking to break a slump, the Raiders have the personnel to earn the win.
The Raiders will be relying on leading scorers Stephanie Stevens and Hanna Lahiff to bring an end to their losing streak. Thus far in 2013 Lahiff leads the Raiders with 10.8 points per game with 4.3 rebounds while Stevens 8 point per game average pairs nicely with her 4.8 assists.
Sara Karamol leads GRCC in rebounding with a cool 9.4 per game average with Danielle Harrison and Alyssa VandenBerge trailing with 7.6 and 7.2 respectively.
The Pioneers are led by sophomore Taylor Mantyla. Mantyla has averaged a double-double with 25 points and 10.2 rebounds per game in 2013. She's supported offensively in scoring by freshmen guards Champagne Arthur's 15.1 point average and Dy'Mond Perry's 13.7.
GRCC's men enter tonight's game at 3-2 and are hoping to continue to climb higher above the .500 mark while extending their three game win streak before the start of the new year with a win over Delta's 4-4 Pioneers.
Though it's been over a year since the squads faced off, the returning sophomores still remember the 55-58 loss to Delta last season as if it were yesterday. Heading into the match with the understanding that the Pioneers are coming to GR with victory in mind, Sophomore Deontae Hudson feels his squad has what it takes to earn the W this season.
"They got the win last year. This year we're ready for 'em."
Delta's men are on a two game slide after being handed losses by Kalamazoo and Owens Community Colleges, who both received votes in the latest NJCAA DII poll. GRCC looks to keep them headed downward on that slide.
The Raiders are led by a pair of Muskegon Big Reds in Courtney Hill and Deontae Hudson. Hill is averaging 15.2 points per game while adding 3.2 assists and 5 rebounds per game while Hudson has added an average of 12 points and 7 rebounds.
The Pioneers are led by sophomores Caleb McIntosh with 17.8 points per game and Tre Johnson with 12.6.
Game time will be at 5:30 and 7:30 tonight in the Gordon Hunsberger Arena for the men and women respectively.
