Kirtland Community College

Sports News Release

10775 N. St. Helen Road, Roscommon, MI 48653 (989) 275-5000     kirtland.edu
Subject: Kirtland Firebirds topple Alpena
For Release: Monday, Jan. 24, 2005		 Office: Public Relations 
Contact: Irene Borak, (989) 275-5000 Ext. 242

Kirtland Firebirds topple Alpena
ROSCOMMON – Casey Burrows led Kirtland’s Lady Firebirds in scoring with 17 points in their 79-70 win over the Alpena Lumberjacks Saturday, Jan. 22, in Roscommon.

Only a few points separated the teams for most of the game, until the final minutes when the Firebirds simply outplayed their rivals.

“We played Firebird defense tonight,” said Kirtland coach Teresa Stuck. “There was a balanced scoring attack, with five people in double figures which came off of 40 forced turnovers.”

The win is likely to blow a little wind in the sails of the Firebirds’ as it ended their four-game in-conference losing streak which has dropped them to eighth in Michigan’s Eastern Conference.

“This was a game we felt we had to win and it was good to see the team rise to the challenge for 40 full minutes,” Stuck said.

It was a great game for Burrows.

“She finally found her stroke tonight, but it was only after rebounding and playing defense,” Stuck said.

Kenzie Steward added 15 points for Kirtland, while Nynne Larsen contributed 14 and Felon Harris put in 13 points.

“She’s becoming a real leader out there and taking care of the basketball,” Stuck said about Harris, who is a Kirtland freshman, coming to Roscommon from Toronto.

Amanda Cooper netted 10 points while playing through a couple injuries suffered in the Firebirds’ tough contest against Mott Community College three days before.

The win pushed the Lady Firebirds’ record to 2-5 in the Eastern Conference and 5-15 overall, while Alpena fell to 3-4 (2-12 overall).

The Firebirds have a good opportunity in the next few games to gain a few notches in the conference standings. They continue to play on their home court, at the CRAF Center in Roscommon, for another week, with a Wednesday, Jan. 26 game against Macomb Community College and a Saturday, Jan. 29 game against Wayne County Community.