Crusaders Overtake Women's Basketball Late to Stun Cougars

(Livonia, MI)-- The Cleary Cougars women's basketball team held a late lead, but were unable to make the finishing plays, as the host Madonna Crusaders stormed back to take the lead and the game Saturday afternoon in Livonia.

After take a few minutes to grow into the game, Cleary would come alive late in the opening quarter, thanks to a balanced offensive effort led by Hannah Covert's 5 first quarter points.  The Cougars led 16-9 after the first ten minutes of action.  Cleary started the second quarter like they finished the first, ad their lead grew to 9 points after a Mileisha Rodriguez tip-in with 5:58  left in the half.  Madonna would turn up the pressure, and hit a pair of three's to cut into the Cougar lead, ultimately overtaking the Cougars late, as Madonna went into the half leading 28-27.

The two teams would trade baskets for the entire third quarter, but the Crusaders would find enough footing to lead Cleary by four going into the final ten minutes of action.  Cleary fought back, and took the lead with just over six minutes to go, when Taedom Stein completed a three point play with the go-ahead free throw.  After a Crusader basket, Riley Merryfield put Cleary up again with a made jumper, and Mileisha Rodriguez extended that lead to three with just under three minutes to play.  A pair of Crusader free throws cut the deficit to one, but Amy Jackson hit a three point shot to put Cleary up four points with 2:26 to play.  Unfortunately for Cleary, the Cougars would go cold, and were unable to score the rest of the game, as the Crusaders scored the game's final ten points to take the lead and the game.

Taedom Stein led the Cleary attack with a double-double of 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists.  Mileisha Rodriguez added her fifth double-double of the season, with 12 points and a career high 21 rebounds.  She also added 4 steals.  Riley Merryfield posted 12 points and 3 assists, while Hannah Covert had 10 points off the bench.

Cleary drops to 2-14 overall, 2-8 in the WHAC.  The Cougars will finish off their four-game road stint with a trip to UM-Dearborn on Wednesday to take on the Wolverines.  The game is scheduled for 5:30 PM.