1st Round Exit-3/5
The Macomb Lady Monarchs traveled to Toledo, OH to play against the #6 team in the nation the Owens Lady Express. In the first game of the Regional Tournament, the Lady Monarchs loss by a score of 92-54. The under staffed Macomb team put up a good effort in the first ten minutes of the game but after that, the volcano named the Lady Express erupted and crushed everything in it’s path. Macomb shot 32% from the floor and 45% from the free throw line. Owens pounded Macomb on the boards 61-37 and the Lady Monarchs only turned the ball over 16 times. Finishing an impressive freshman season was Chanequa Hills compiling 12 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assist. Sophomore Nakisha Adray recorded 10 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block. Macomb finishes the season with a 11-14 overall record.
Sophomore Day-2/20
Saturday’s game honored Macomb’s graduating sophomores as they played their last home game as a Macomb Monarch. Lauren “Doctor” Quinn, NaKisha “Coldplay” Adray, Meredith “Three-Arrow” Smith and Jessica “Chef” Phillips accomplished many things on the court but their exploits as students are remarkable and
the future is bright for each of these young women. As the pregame ceremonies concluded, the Macomb Lady Monarchs were ready to duel with the Kirtland Lady Firebirds. The Mighty Monarchs didn’t disappoint as they won their third straight game by a score of 59-47. Macomb’s defense pilfered 15 steals, forced 24 turnovers and held Kirtland to 34% shooting from the floor. Kirtland held the rebounding edge 35-34 but Macomb crushed every attempt by the Lady Firebirds to crawl back into the game. Playing the leading role in the win was none other than freshman Chanequa "Handles the Pill" Hills. Hills directed the offense with the prowess of an army general and compiled 17 points, 9 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 block. Lauren Chase added 10 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals. As the regular season concludes, Macomb improves to 7-9 in the conference and 11-13 overall as they head to the Regional Tournament at Owens College in Toledo, OH.
Redemption-2/17
In an earlier season match up between the Lady Monarchs of Macomb and the Lady Pioneers of Delta, Macomb was mortified as they imploded down the stretch and loss the game 89-75 in overtime. The rematch would prove to be a different story! Armed with motivation to avenge the previous game and Coach Ritchie’s constant preparation; Macomb played with tenacity and raced to a 66-58 victory. Macomb held the rebounding edge 48-36, forced 18 turnovers and quelled the usually lethal shooting of Delta to 12% from behind the arc and 28% overall. The backcourt play of freshman guards Chanequa Hills and Jasmine Flanagan proved to be pivotal at setting the tempo and seizing control of the game. Spearheading the charge was Chanequa “Handles the Pill” Hills; Hills played exquisitely compiling 23 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and 1 block. Flanagan added 9 points but was essential in driving to basket and placing Delta in foul trouble. On the block creating havoc were Kisha Adray and Brittany Chapman. Adray had 9 points, 6 rebounds and 3 ferocious blocks; while Chapman dominated the boards with 11 and 6 points. The Lady Monarchs improve their record to 6-9 in the conference and 10-13 overall.
Return to Winning-2/13
The Macomb Lady Monarchs hosted the Mott Lady Bears and from the opening tip assumed control and
never looked back. Macomb won the game by a score of 71-44. Macomb crashed the boards with intensity and posted a huge rebounding edge of 52-28. The Lady Monarchs defense was stout as well, they held Mott to 31% shooting for the game, forced 16 turnovers and recorded a season high of 8 team blocks. The Lady Monarchs’ trio of Jessica Rombach, Jasmine Flanagan and Lauren Chase led the way! Rombach recorded 11 points and 6 rebounds. Flanagan weaved in and out of traffic and posted 10 points and 6 assist. Chase imposed her physical dominance and compiled 10 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks. Macomb improves their record to 5-9 in the conference and 9-13 overall.
Run & Gun-2/6
The Macomb Lady Monarchs battled with the Henry Ford Lady Hawks on Saturday and were beaten by a score of 88-74. From the opening tip, Henry Ford ran the run and gun offense of the Phoenix Suns. In the first half alone, Henry Ford took 54 shots and off three pointers they scored 42 points for the game. Macomb out rebounded Henry Ford 48-41 but turned the ball over 36 times. Even though Macomb shot 49% from the floor for the game, the Lady Monarchs couldn’t keep up with the pace of Henry Ford. Chanequa “Handles the Pill” Hills drove the ball to the cup effortlessly on her way to wonderful afternoon. She shot 77% from the floor compiling 31 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals. Meredith Smith dropped 11 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Macomb’s record falls to 4-9 in the conference and 8-13 overall.
Second Half Collapse-2/3
The Macomb Lady Monarchs played host the St. Clair Lady Skippers Wednesday night and for the first half imposed their will upon St. Clair. Macomb with a stifling defense walked into the locker room with a confident 31-28 halftime lead. However, the second half would prove to be very different. The Lady Monarchs shot an abysmal 23% from the floor and only scored 21 total points. The end result for the third straight game was a Macomb loss by a score of 61-52. Macomb was led by the backcourt tandem of Jasmine Flanagan and Chanequa Hills. Flanagan led the team in scoring with 11 points and 3 steals. Hills played aggressive compiling 6 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. Macomb falls to 4-8 in the conference and 8-12 overall.
Miscues-1/30
The Macomb Lady Monarchs traveled to Waterford to play the Oakland Lady Raiders on Saturday, January 30th. The Lady Monarchs fought a good fight but ended the game in another painful loss by a score of 67-57. Oakland out rebounded Macomb 33-29 and forced the Lady Monarchs into 25 turnovers. Several miscues in crunch time caused Macomb to let a winnable game slip through their fingers. Chanequa Hills and Meredith Smith continue to lead the Lady Monarchs. Hills compiled 9 points, 5 assists and 4 steals, while Smith recorded 9 points & 4 assists. The unsung award goes to a pair of post players, NaKisha Adray and Brittany Chapman. Adray finished with 9 points & 4 rebounds and Chapman collected 7 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals. The Lady Monarchs record falls to 4-7 in the conference and 8-11 overall.
Dominated-1/23
The Macomb Lady Monarchs played the number one team in the nation, the Schoolcraft Lady Ocelots and loss by a devastating score of 90-30. Macomb’s inability to shoot, pass or penetrate was evident in their 30 turnovers and 11 field goals made. Macomb shot 19% from the floor and only scored 9 points in the second half. Schoolcraft out rebounded Macomb 48-31; Chanequa Hills led Macomb with 9 points and 2 rebounds. Macomb’s record falls to 4-6 in the conference and 8-10 overall.
Defense…Defense-1/20
The Macomb Lady Monarchs traveled to Mio, Michigan to face the Kirtland Lady Firebirds. The gym was cold but the intensity of the Monarch defense spurred the Macomb offense to avenge an earlier season loss to Kirtland by a score of 58-35. Macomb’s defense forced 31 turnovers and posted 41-37 rebounding edge over Kirtland. The most impressive number that Macomb's defense produced was holding the Lady Firebirds to 11 made shots on 24% shooting.
The defensive intensity was pushed by sophomores NaKisha “Coldplay” Adray and Lauren “Dr.” Quinn. Adray was fierce turning in 6 points, 2 blocks and 3 steals. Quinn was equally important in the defensive scheme as she applied pressure on the perimeter and pilfered 4 steals. A dynamic performance was turned in by freshman Chanequa "Handles the Pill" Hills. Hills was everywhere on the court registering 13 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and 1 block. Macomb improves to 4-5 in the conference and 8-9 overall.
Free Throws-1/16
The Macomb Lady Monarchs played host to the Delta Lady Pioneers on January 16th and fought their way into the game but luck was not on their side as Delta won 89-75 in overtime. The Achilles heel of the Monarch's loss was free throws. Macomb was up as many as six points with two minutes remaining and couldn’t sink free throws to bury the game. Macomb went 7/19 down the stretch from the stripe. Delta forced overtime and completely dominated in the overtime session, outscoring Macomb, 18-4. Macomb was led by Agent Smith; Meredith Smith compiled 15 points, 8 rebounds and 4 steals. Lauren Chase resembled George Mikan as she commanded position around the basket and registered 12 points and 6 rebounds. Macomb falls to 3-5 in the conference and 7-9 overall.
Redemption-1/13
The Macomb Lady Monarchs played a fierce Mott Lady Bears team that wouldn’t quit! After suffering two straight losses against Mott, Macomb snapped the streak last night winning 67-56. Macomb’s defense proved to be pivotal in the last five minutes of the game. They forced Mott into several bad shots causing the Lady Bears to shoot 33% from the floor. Macomb also forced 27 turnovers and out-rebounded Mott 42-37. The German Assassin Jessica Rombach led all scores for the second consecutive game with 16 points and 6 rebounds. Another solid performance was turned in by Meredith Smith compiling 11 points and 2 steals. Brittany Chapman also showed her low post ability by registering 8 points and 8 rebounds. The Lady Monarchs increased their winning streak to two games and improve their record to 3-4 in the conference and 7-8 overall.
Press Breaker-1/6
The women’s basketball team was pumped and ready to play after being on a two game skid! Macomb battled with a very tough Henry Ford team.
Henry Ford’s stifling defensive pressure rattled the Lady Monarchs and forced Macomb into 32 turnovers. However, shooting 52% from the field and Coach Ritchie’s game adjustments helped Macomb prevail to a win by a score of 81-70. Every time Henry Ford made a run the German Assassin Jessica Rombach shooting from her Russian Kalashnikov, dropped stepped into the paint and obliterated any chance of a comeback. Rombach went 16 of 21 from the floor, scoring a total of 33 points, 7 rebounds and 1 block. Meredith Smith compiled 10 points, 6 assists, 2 steals and 1 block. The Lady Monarchs improve their record to 2-4 in the conference and 6-8 overall.