ESCANABA — Playing catch-up didn’t quite work out for the Bay College women here Saturday as they dropped a 56-52 basketball decision to Gogebic Community College in their Fall Classic I.

Gogebic took a 31-18 on a putback by freshman wing Nicole DiGiorgio with two minutes, 51 seconds left in the second quarter.

The Norse (1-1) finished the second with a 7-0 run. closing within 31-25 on a 12-foot jump shot from the baseline by sophomore guard Alyssa Cretton 10 seconds before halftime.

Gwinn graduate Tianna Taylor brought the Norse within 31-28 on a jumper from top of the key to open the third quarter.

The Samsons, however, extended their lead to 36-30 on a running eight-foot jumper by West Iron County graduate Emily Nelson.

Bay tied the contest at 37 with 2:57 remaining in the third when sophomore guard Stephanie Frappy split a pair of free throws.

Gogebic regained the lead on a six-foot jumper by freshman wing Hylee Hewitt and led 43-41 after the third.

“Our game plan was to keep their two big players out of the conversation,” said Bay coach Matt Gregory. “We’re pleased with the effort. With a young team it’s good to see what we’re going to be. The fact we didn’t quit is good.”

Hewitt sank a pair of gifters to give the Samsons a 47-43 lead with 6:33 left in the contest.

Neither team then scored for three minutes until Nelson converted on a lay-in for a 49-43 cushion.

A lay-in by Taylor brought the Norse within 49-47 and a 22-foot jumper from the right wing by Gladstone grad Alaina Trudeau shaved their deficit to 51-50 with 78 seconds left to play.

Freshman wing Jasmine Redhouse drained a 21-foot set shot to put the Samsons up by four points with 48.8 seconds remaining, forcing the Norse to use a time-out.

Redhouse then secured the decision with a pair of free throws with 5.7 seconds left.

“We needed this one,” said Gogebic coach Cole Schreiner. “Number 22 (Bark River-Harris grad Kassidy Roll) and 33 (Taylor) caused us some problems. We have only seven girls, but luckily we’re balanced enough to get through. They can guard multiple people.”

Cretton scored 14 points. Frappy added nine and freshman point guard had eight points and seven rebounds for the Norse, who were outrebounded 49-36. They hit 20-of-61 field goals, including 4-of-21 from beyond the arc, and committed 11 turnovers.

“We were cold from outside,” said Gregory. “It’s hard to win a game when you’re 4-of-21 from three-point range.”

Hewitt tallied 17 points and nine rebounds and Nelson added 14 points and 13 boards for the Samsons, who were 23-of-61 from the field.

Alpena Community College (1-1) defeated Harper College of Paletine, Ill. 82-57 in Saturday’s opener.

Sophomore forward Jade Schultz led the way with 35 points. Sophomore guard Madison Wilkinson tossed in 15 and Mid Peninsula grad Shae Lampinen scored six for the Lumberjacks (1-1).

Sayuri Ishikawa drained seven 3-point shots and led Harper (0-2) with 27 points. Isabelle Gebala had 14.

The Norse opened with a 55-34 triumph over Harper Friday.

Cretton led Bay with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Trudeau added 12 points and 11 boards. Humphrey also scored 12 points.

Angelina Gebala led the Hawks with 15 points and Isabella Gebala had 14.

Gogebic hung on for a 57-53 triumph over Alpena in Friday’s opener.

Freshman guard scored 15 points for the Samsons. Schultz paced Alpena with 25. Wilkinson tallied 18 and freshman forward Makayla Kamyszek and 10.

The Norse host Fall Classic II this weekend, facing Mesabi Range Community College of Virginia, Minn. Friday and Madison (Wis.) College Saturday.