The Rainy River Community College women’s basketball team opened the 2011-12 season last weekend by dropping two games at the Mesabi Range Tourney.

The Voyageurs, who had only six players see action, opened the tournament Friday with a 66-44 loss to Hibbing.

RRCC shot only 16 percent (8-50) from the field and scored primarily from the charity stripe by making 26 of 37 free throws.

Sabrina Budziszewski led the Voyageurs with 16 points, while Haylee Gates and Heaven Grinsell each added 11.

Hibbing guard Brittany Paige led all scorers with 21, including six 3-pointers.

On Saturday, RRCC lost to Mesabi Range, 85-43.

The Voyageurs ended up making less than one-fourth of their field goals (10-43), while the Lady Norse shot above 52 percent (36-69).

Gates scored a team-high 14 points, while forward Joscelynne Alvarez added 13 for RRCC.

Mesabi Range forward Essa Jacobsen scored a game-high 15.

The Voyageurs, who are 0-2, play next Friday and Saturday at the Vermilion Tourney in Ely.

Hibbing 66, RRCC 44

Rainy River 20 24 — 44

Hibbing 38 28 — 66

Rainy River: Sabrina Budziszewski 16, Haylee Gates 11, Carissa Mansfield 2, Deanna Reed 1, Heaven Grinsell 11, Joscelynne Alvarez 3. 3-pointers: Gates, Grinsell. Free throws: 26-37. Fouls: 14.

Hibbing: Jenna Zymslony 6, Whitney Finco 12, Kiersten Apel 6, Kourtney Kruger 6, Brittany Paige 21, Audra McAllister 9, Natalie Stine 2, Brittany Gaskell 4. 3-pointers: Paige 6, Kruger 2. Free throws: 6-12. Fouls: 29. Fouled out: Zymslony, Finco, McAllister, Stine.

Mesabi Range 85, RRCC 43

Rainy River 24 19 — 43

Mesabi Range 46 39 — 85

Rainy River: Sabrina Budziszewski 7, Haylee Gates 14, Joscelynne Alvarez 13, Deanna Reed 3, Heaven Grinsell 4, Carissa Mansfield 2. 3-pointers: Gates, Alvarez. Free throws: 21-33. Fouls: 16.

Mesabi Range: Essa Jacobsen 15, Ashley Block 5, Andy Ivanovic 4, Synamon Martin 9, Natasha Dragicevich 4, Nicole Niemi 6, Abigail Otis 10, Nikki Jasura 8, Theresa Stewart 9, Tina Nelson 2, Merinda Turner 4, Megan Garding 9. 3-pointers: Stewart 3, Otis 2, Jasura 2, Ivanovic, Niemi. Free throws: 4-12. Fouls 20.