SHEBOYGAN, Wis. -- The Lady Samsons won their third straight as Gogebic Community College defeated the University of Wisconsin-Sheboygan 56-45 Thursday evening.

GCC coach Dennis Mackey said the 9-6 Lady Samsons will have to continue to play well in order to be competitive with Finlandia University at home Saturday.

"Finlandia has some fine players, inside and away from the basket. We'll need to play well in order to be successful their four-year program," said Mackey.

Saturday's tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. at the Lindquist Center.

The Lady Samsons came out flat against UW-Sheboygan, but Nicole Rosga, Carly Levra and Megan Tucker turned the tide for GCC, according to Mackey.

"They gave us energy. They supplied the intensity to our defense."

Sophomores Kristen Ruppe and Nichole Mazurek supplied most the offense, scoring 18 and 14 points, respectively.

The Lady Samsons led 27-22 at half and built a 43-26 lead, before UW-S battled back within eight.

"We just weren't able to put them away," said Mackey.

Gogebic CC -- Leslie Haapoja 1 0 0 2-2, Nicole Rosga 2 0 0 0-4, Janey Routheaux 4 0 1 0-9, Nichole Mazurek 6 0 2 3-14, Samantha Ervin 1 0 0 0-2, Allison Coss 1 0 0 0-2, Andrea Harrington 0 0 0 3-0, Kristen Ruppe 9 0 0 4-18, Megan Tucker 0 1 0 1-3, Carly Levra 1 0 0 3-2. Totals: 25 1 3-5 16 56.

UW-Sheboygan -- Tammy Mueller 3 0 2 0-8, Abby Erring 3 0 1 3-7, Sandy Lisowe 1 0 0 2-2, Becky Kinssinger 7 2 4 2-24, Steph Trundell 2 0 0 1-4. Totals: 16 2 7-14 8 45.

Halftime: 27-22.