MSOE 57, Carthage 49
MILWAUKEE, Wis. - The Carthage women's basketball team returned to action on Wednesday evening for their second game of the 2025-26 season, facing off against the MSOE Raiders.After the Firebirds took an early lead in the opening quarter, the Raiders bounced back and took control of the momentum and came away with the victory over the visiting Firebirds. 



The Firebirds won the opening tip off and scored immediately with Whitney Thompson scoring a layup just five seconds into the game. A pair of free throws got the Raiders on the board at 2-2. A layup from Grace Cord, a free throw from Malia Green, and layups from Alyssa Orozco and Mallory Winters extended the lead to 9-2 with 5:31 to play in the opening quarter. The Raiders responded with a 9-2 run over the next 4:06 to tie the game at 11-11 with 25 seconds remaining in the period. A last second three from Green put the Firebirds back in the lead 14-11 to end the first quarter. Green and Orozco each scored a team-high four points in the quarter.

The Raiders opened the second quarter with a three pointer of their own from Aleah Butterbrodt to tie the game at 14-14. Winters answered right back with a made jump shot to break the tie once again. The Raiders then found momentum, going on a 6-0 run to take a 20-16 lead. The two squads traded baskets through the remainder of the second quarter, with the Raiders holding a 30-25 lead over the Firebirds heading into the halftime break. Winters led the team in points with four in the second quarter, and was tied with Green and Orozco in the half with six points each.

A layup from Cord got the action started in the second half, but was answered quickly by MSOE's Dani Mendez. Nora Ahram hit a pull up jumper to cut the lead to three points before a three from Lana Kerley extended the Raiders lead back to six points with 7:29 to go. Back-to-back scores for Ahram once again cut the Firebirds deficit to two, trailing 35-33 with 6:29 to go. The Raiders answered with a 5-0 run of their own, jumping out to a 40-33 lead. Another score from Ahram brought the Firebirds within five at the media timeout with 4:13 to play in the third quarter. A three pointer from the Raiders out of the timeout extended the lead back to eight points. The Firebirds proceeded to go on a 6-0 run with contributions from Jessie Pakaski, Taelor Paulsen, Green, and Winters to cut the deficit to 43-41. The Raiders would add a free throw to their total, ending the third quarter with a 44-41 lead. Ahram led the way with eight points in the quarter.

A jumper from Thompson brought the Firebirds within a point of the lead to start the fourth quarter and a pair of free throws gave Carthage their first lead since 8:39 in the second quarter. The Raiders responded with a 5-0 run, taking a 49-45 lead with 4:30 to go. A free throw from Cord would cut the deficit to three with 3:14 to go, but a pair of free throws for the Raiders would extend the lead back to five as MSOE held on to defeat the Firebirds 57-49.


 

• Malia Green - 10 points (4-11, .364), 7 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks
• Nora Ahram - 8 points (4-7, .571), 3 steals, 2 assists, 2 rebounds
• Grace Cord - 5 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists

"A tough loss tonight to a good MSOE team," said Head Coach Megan Jones. "We had some positive stretches but struggled to put a full four quarters together. We started the game strong and then began to relax too much, while MSOE became the aggressor for the majority of the game. We missed some scout assignments and they made us pay for it. We have to do a better job getting mentally prepared, knowing the scout, and playing hard and executing for a full four quarters. It's tough to win when shooting 14% from 3, and 50% from the free throw line. Credit to MSOE, they're an experienced group and they were the better team tonight. We'll get refocused tomorrow to protect our home court on Saturday."



The Firebirds (1-1) return to Tarble Arena on Saturday, Nov. 15 as the Firebirds host Edgewood at 2 p.m. For more information, visit athletics.carthage.edu.