(Sugar Grove, IL.) –  Waubonsee Community College's women's basketball team opened its' 2024-2025 season with a tough 73-68 loss to visiting Madison College on Thursday evening in Erickson Hall Gymnasium. The youthful Chiefs (0-1), with only one returning sophomore player from last year's squad which went 8-23 overall, trailed by as much as 10-points in both halves. The Wolfpack (1-1), with a roster consisting entirely of freshman, allowed the Chiefs to rally from the foul line and take the lead early in the fourth quarter. However, down the stretch Madison's hot shooting and a 14-0 run secured the road win for the Wolfpack as they held off Waubonsee in the final minute of play.

Abbi Dietlin tallied the first basket of the season for head coach Jim Williams' Chiefs and Savannah Person FitzSimons buried a three-pointer from the top of the key as Waubonsee jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the opening minutes. Both teams struggled offensively after that with the Wolfpack securing an 11-9 lead in the waning seconds of the first quarter on a three by Aubrey Maass. Madison suddenly caught fire to start the second quarter by reeling off eight straight points to grab a 19-9 lead the first two minutes. Waubonsee responded with a quick 10-3 run capped off by a pair of long treys by Anna-Marie Godina to pull within three points at 22-19. The score stayed that way for the next four minutes of play before the teams' traded baskets as the Chiefs got to within two points with two and half minutes to go until halftime. Madison was able to push its lead back up to five points and looked as though it would take that advantage into the locker room. Inbounding the ball from beyond half court with one second remaining Waubonsee's Person FitzSimons was able to loft a long pass to Makayla McNally at the top of the key. The 6'0" freshman from Oswego leaped to haul in the pass, landed, spun and launched a shot in one motion splashing in a 15-footer at the buzzer to make it 29-26 at the break.

Madison was able to maintain that slim lead early in the third quarter. Despite a pair of clutch baskets by Emily Mengerink, Waubonsee still trailed 40-35 midway through the period. Each time the Chiefs got within striking distance it seemed like the Wolfpack answered. A steal and lay-in by Anyae Newson, along with a pair of free throws by Mengerink cut the deficit to 46-43 with a minute left in the quarter. McNally then converted two free throws and Person FitzSimons tied it at 47-all with a pair of free throws with 0:27 left in the third. Demayiah Gaines made the first of two free throws with 0:08 remaining to give the Chiefs a 48-47 heading into the final period. A basket by Newson slashing to the rim a minute into the fourth quarter extended Waubonsee's lead to 51-47. Dietlin followed with an offensive rebound and put back basket moments later to give the Chiefs their biggest lead to that point. However, the Wolfpack nailed a pair of three pointers to knot the score with seven minutes left in regulation. The visitors utilized that momentum and ran off the next eight points to grab a 61-53 lead midway through the final stanza. Madison's lead reached double digits again before Waubonsee clawed to within 69-66 with a minute to go on a steal and breakaway lay-up by Godina. A short time later Godina scored on a drive to the basket to make it 70-68 with 0:27 left. Maass then connected on the second of two free throws with 0:12 to go and a Chiefs' turnover gave Madison the ball back again with 0:07 remaining. Maass then converted a pair of free throws to account for the final score.

McNally finished with 16 points and seven rebounds to lead the Chiefs. Godina added 14 points, six assists and four steals. Mengerink chipped in with 10 points and six boards to go along with three assists and three steals. Newson contributed nine points, and FitzSimons booked four assists, five rebounds and seven points. Maass paced Madison with 19 points as four Wolfpack players reached double figures. The Chiefs are in action again this coming Saturday, November 9 when they host Lansing (MI) Community College beginning at 1:00 p.m. The men's contest between the Chiefs and the Stars is set to follow beginning at 3:00 p.m.