GRAND RAPIDS — The Bay College women’s basketball team picked up a 65-54 win against the Grand Rapids Community College Raiders here Friday for a season opening victory.

The Norse led 25-14 after the first quarter and 40-23 at the half.

Kaitlyn Hardwick led the Norse with 13 points, four rebounds and one triple. Holly Wardynski and Haley Trudell both scored nine points, with Trudell hitting three triples.

The men’s team rallied out of a 20-point hole in the first half and nearly hung on in its opener, but ended up falling short in a heartbreaking 70-68 loss to Grand Rapids Community College.

The Norse, who trailed 35-15 with 7:08 left in the first half, pulled within 40-31 on a three-pointer by Chris Dobessi at the halftime buzzer.

The Norse took their first lead at 46-45 with 14:58 left in the second half. A few minutes later, Matt Wagner tripled to put the Norse up 54-47 and their lead eventually grew to 58-50 with just over nine minutes left.

After the Raiders responded, Christian Alexander’s three-point play put the Norse up 68-64 with 1:28 left.

However, the Raiders closed the game on a 6-0 run as Alexander fouled out and Xaviel Fields missed a potential game-winning triple with three ticks remaining.

Tristan Masuga led the Norse with 14 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks. Alexander chipped in with 14 points and nine rebounds. Ryan Robinette of Escanaba had 12 points and eight rebounds, while Fields added 10 points.

Herman Brown led Grand Rapids with 15 points.