IRONWOOD -- Anoka-Ramsey Community College's height proved to be too much for the Gogebic Lady Samsons as the Rams won the 12th annual Lindquist Classic 88-68 Sunday afternoon.

Ram center Selina Theirsen used her size well inside to lead all scorers with 34 points. She also had 13 rebounds. Forward Bonnie Johnson had 28 points and 15 rebounds.

GCC fell behind 12-5 as Johnson socred the Rams' first eight points in the lane and Theirsen added the next four.

GCC freshman Carly Levra of Hurley came off the bench to spark the home team. She hit a jumper and split a pair of free throws after a steal.

Sophomore Nichole Mazurek, also from Hurley, showed a strong move inside and the Lady Samsons were within 12-11.

Then the Rams maintained control with an 8-0 run, including buckets in the paint by Theirsen and Johnson.

The Lady Samsons edged close again, as Ironwood sophomore Kristen Ruppe scored twice inside and fellow former Red Devil Janey Routheaux hit a 3-pointer and converted a three-point play off a hard drive to the basket. GCC was within 22-21 with 8:45 remaining in the half.

The Rams continued to work the ball inside and built the lead again as the Lady Samsons went cold. The didn't score another field goal in the half and trailed 41-26 at intermission.

Despite improved play by Mazurek in the second half, the Lady Samsons could not gain the lead in the second half. She picked up her game in the second half to score 12 of her 15 points and also had seven rebounds.

Routheaux finished with a team-high 17 points. Ruppe scored 16 points and had seven boards.

GCC coach Dennis Mackey was impressed with the Rams.

"This is the most skilled team we've seen. They have a couple of big girls who are pretty good and they run the floor well. They beat us down the court too many times," said Mackey.

Mackey said his team played well at times.

"Mazurek had a good second half, (Nicole) Rosga, too. Ruppe played well all the way. Janey had a good weekend and Carly came in and made some good plays."

GCC's game with the University of Wisconsin-Marinette on Saturday has been canceled. The Buccaneers dropped their women's team. The Lady Samsons (4-4) host Itasca CC Dec. 8.

Anoka-Ramsey CC -- Aaron Gilbert 0 0 0 1-0, Anne Woods 0 0 0 4-0, Ellyn Shun 5 1 1 2-14, Bryce Fjetland 0 0 0 0-0, Bonnie Johnson 13 0 2 3-28, Emily Beaudry 3 0 0 2-6, Danaqa Storn-Reff 2 0 2 3-6, Selina Theirsen 12 0 10 3-34, Ashley Benson 0 0 0 4-0. Totals: 35 1 15-23 22 88.

Gogebic CC -- Nicole Rosga 0 0 2 3-2, Janey Routheaux 2 2 7 3-17, Nichole Mazurek 2 2 5 4-15, Samantha Ervin 0 0 0 0-0, Allison Coss 2 1 0 0-7, Andrea Harrington 0 0 2 1-2, Kristen Ruppe 6 0 4 4-16, Megan Tucker 0 1 1 1-4, Crystal Barbacovi 0 0 0 0-0, Carly Levra 2 0 1 1-5. Totals: 14 6 22-33 17 68.

Consolation final

Hibbing CC 57, Vermilion 54

Hibbing CC -- Kayla Puttonen 0 0 0 0-0, Lacey Clark 4 2 6 2-20, Abby Femling 2 0 6 1-10, Marci Smith 1 0 0 2-2, Tina Polla 6 0 4 4-16, Ashley Mattson 2 0 1 2-5, Katie Kautto 0 0 0 1-0, Kristina Keller 2 0 0 2-4. Totals: 17 2 17-26 14 57.

Vermilion CC -- Christina Venema 0 0 0 1-0, Lara Doran 1 3 4 3-15, Jill Manning 0 0 0 3-0, Meghan Pauley 3 0 0 3-6, Gena Jerich 9 0 0 3-18, Zandra Carlson 2 0 5 5-9, Krystle Smrekar 2 0 2 3-6. Totals: 17 3 11-13 21 54.

Saturday

Lady Samsons 78

Vermilion CC 51

GCC used balanced scoring to beat Vermilion CC of Ely, Minn., 78-51 Saturday in the opening round.

Mackey said Vermilion chose to "pack it in" on Ruppe, meaning everybody had to step up.

Six Lady Samsons scored between nine and 12 points. Janey Routheaux and Nichole Mazurek each scored 13 points. Allison Coss and Ruppe made 12 apiece. Andrea Harrington and Nicole Rosga scored nine each.

Up 17-15 early in the first half, the Lady Samsons took off. Samantha Ervin nailed a triple and Mazurek had a putback to make it 22-15. Routheaux and Coss worked for baskets as the run continued to make it 29-16.

Mackey liked the Lady Samsons' 12-33 performance from behind the 3-point arc.

Vermilion -- Christina Venema 1 0 0 0-2, Lara Doran 1 4 2 3-16, Jill Manning 0 0 0 0-0, Meghan Pauley 2 0 0 2-4, Gena Jerich 7 0 0 4-14, Zandra Carlson 1 0 0 2-2, Kelsey Edwards 2 0 4 2-8, Krystle Smrekar 2 0 1 0-5. Totals: 16 4 7-12 13 51.

GCC -- Nicole Rosga 4 0 1 2-9, Janey Routheaux 0 4 1 2-13, Nichole Mazurek 3 1 4 2-13, Samantha Ervin 0 1 0 0-3, Allison Coss 3 2 0 0-12, Andrea Harrington 0 3 0 1-9, Kristen Ruppe 6 0 0 2-12, Megan Tucker 0 1 0 2-3, Crystal Barbacovi 1 0 0 0-2, Carly Levra 1 0 0 3-2. Totals: 18 12 6-10 14 78.

Half: GCC 37-23.

Anoka-Ramsey CC 104, Hibbing CC 58

Anoka-Ramsey CC -- Aaron Gilbert 2 0 2 3-6, Anne Woods 0 0 0 2-0, Ellyn Shun 3 1 0 2-9, Bryce Fjetland 1 2 0 0-8, Bonnie Johnson 5 1 1 3-13, Emily Beaudry 3 0 3 0-9, Danaqa Storn-Reff 6 0 9 1-21, Selina Theirsen 10 0 6 3-26, Ashley Benson 6 0 0 2-12. Totals: 36 7 21-30 16 104.

Hibbing CC -- Kayla Puttonen 2 0 0 0-4, Lacey Clark 3 1 4 2-13, Abby Femling 5 0 4 3-14, Marci Smith 3 0 3 3-6, Tina Polla 5 0 3 3-13, Ashley Mattson 3 0 0 3-6, Katie Kautto 0 0 1 0-1, Kristina Keller 0 0 1 3-1. Totals: 21 1 13-21 18 58.

Half: A-R 48-21.