Women's Basketball Falls in High Scoring Game to Saint Xavier

(Lansing, MI)-- The Cleary Cougar women's basketball team won three out of four quarters played, but the visiting Saint Xavier Cougars had an eighteen point advantage in the third quarter, as the Cleary Cougars ultimately lost the game 87-83 Saturday afternoon in Lansing.

The two teams would trade early baskets, and Amy Jackson would knock down a three to give Cleary an early lead.  SXU would go on a small run to retake the lead a 10-9, but Cleary responded at the free throw line, and with Ameia Storm scoring two points on a layup.  An Izzy Dugal made three would help Cleary's lead to grow to seven points, and after SXU cut the lead to two points, Amy Jackson knocked down her second three of the game to help Cleary regain their advantage.  A pair of late Samantha Hoelscher free throws gave Cleary a 24-19 lead after the first quarter.

Cleary would start the second quarter strong, and when Rylee Thomas made a three, the Cleary lead was in double-digits for the first time in the game.  The two teams would trade baskets, but Izzy Dugal scored a layup, and the lead would grow to thirteen points.  Cleary's double-digit lead was maintaned until late in the half, when SXU went on a run, and the Cleary lead was 46-37 at the break.

The third quarter would see Saint Xavier go on a run, with Cleary only shooting 5-16 from the floor, and SXU shooting 8-14, but the visiting Cougars would also go a perfect 13-13 from the free throw line in the quarter, and SXU would take the lead at 56-55 with 3:41 to go in the third.  That deficit would grow to nine points when SXU made three free throws to finish the quarter, and Cleary would trail 68-59 with ten minutes to play.  After SXU started the quarter with a pair of baskets to take a double-digit lead, Cleary would start to claw their way back into the game.  Izzy Dugal would earn an and-one to cut the deficit to eight points, and then another layup with 30 seconds to play by Dugal would cut the deficit to five points.  After getting a stop, Samantha Hoelscher hit a three to cut the deficit to two points, as Cleary trailed 85-83.  Cleary would be forced to foul, and SXU converted their free throws to hold on for an 87-83 final score.

Samantha Hoelscher led CU with 24 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals.  Taedom Stein would score 20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals.  Izzy Dugal added 14 points off the bench for Cleary, while Mileisha Rodriguez had 10 points and 8 rebounds.

Cleary is now 1-5 on the year, and will open WHAC play at home next Saturday, November 23, when they host the Indiana Tech Warriors at Gannon Gymnasium.  The game is set to begin at 1:00 PM.