Women's Basketball Drops Penultimate Home Game

Women's Basketball Drops Penultimate Home Game
February 21, 2024

(Lansing, MI)-- The Cleary Cougar women's basketball team tried to overcome some early foul trouble, but were unable to do so, as they fell to the visiting Madonna Crusaders Wednesday evening in Lansing.

Amy Jackson got things going for the COugars with a made three, and Rylee Thomas would add another just moments later.  The Cougars would build a six point first quarter lead, but the Crusaders would answer to tie the game.  Cleary would stay hot from the floor, and would lead 25-21 after the first quarter.  Madonna would start strong in the second quarter, and took the lead, but Riley Merryfield and Amelia Storm would help give the Cougars a 32-28 advantage.  The two teams alternated leads, and Both Amelia Storm and Mileisha Rodriguez would pick up fouls, relegating them to the bench, and leaving the interior of the defense thin.  The Cougars weathered the storm and held a 42-39 lead at the half.

The Crusaders started the third quarter on fire, and Cleary struggled to maintain pace in the early goings, as Madonna got up by as many as nine points in the quarter.  Cleary would claw their way back into the game thanks to Taedom Stein and Riley Merryfield, and trailed by five with the final quarter to play.  Cleary would cut the Madonna lead to four points, but late turnovers helped the Crusaders build a double-digit lead that was too much to overcome for the Cougars.

Cleary was led by Taedom Stein, who finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists.  Riley Merryfield added 18 points on four made threes and 3 assists.  Mileisha Rodriguez had 14 points and 7 rebounds in limited minutes due to foul trouble.

The loss eliminates Cleary from postseason contention, and drops the Cougars' record to 6-21, 6-15.  Cleary will finish their season this Saturday with a 1:00 game against Lourdes at Gannon Gymnasium.