By Grace Castleberg
Sports Editor
Grace.Castleberg2641@mb.rctc.edu
After signing five new players to the team this year, RCTC’s women’s basketball team is making strong moves through the conference.
Players Abby Bauer (Caledonia) Grace Riley (Rochester Mayo), Michelle Grant (Rochester Lourdes), Kyleigh Wangen (Stewartville), and Olivia Haug (Lanesboro), join Jalysa Cutting, Anika Hanson, Anika Gardner, Nautika Kotero, and Mer Gach to complete the 2017-2018 roster.
Kotero and Ratliff return this season with honorable achievements in the conference following the end of the 2016-2017 season. Kotero was named to the MCAC All-Defensive team, and Ratliff was tabbed as a second All-Team American.
The women’s basketball team kicked off the 2017-18 campaign in style, cruising to a 75-52 opening win over Milwaukee Area Technical College. They opened the scoring with a 26-14 first quarter and never looked back. Freshman Nautika Kotero led all scorers with 19 points, including a perfect 5-5 from the line.
RCTC had four players in double figures for the contest: Grace Riley (17), Jalysa Cutting (12), and Kyleigh Wangen (10) joined Kotero. Olivia Haug had a team leading of 13 rebounds, while Grace Riley had 9 assists, narrowly missing a double-double.
Courtesy of RCTC College Relations
Nautika Kotero faces off against a Central Lakes opponent. The Yellowjackets finished with a score of 66-49.
Cheer on the Yellowjackets at the following home games
- Saturday, Jan. 13 Western Technical College
- Wednesday, Jan. 17 Ridgewater College
- Saturday, Jan. 20 Riverland Community College
- Wednesday, Jan. 31Minnesota West
- Saturday, Feb. 3 St. Cloud Technical
- Saturday, Feb. 17 Minnesota State
- Wednesday, Feb. 21 Anoka-Ramsey