NCAA D1 Detroit Titans Pull Away From Women's Basketball

(Detroit, MI)-- After winning their second WHAC game of the season, the Cleary Cougar women's basketball team made the short drive to Detroit to take on the NCAA D1 University of Detroit Mercy Titans on Sunday afternoon.

Mileisha Rodriguez would get the Cougars on the board first, after an offensive rebound by teammate Taedom Stein.  Detroit answered to tie the game, and took the lead after Cleary was unable to score on their next possesion.  The Titans would get hot from behind the arc, and built an early double-digit lead.  Cleary would cut the lead back to single-digits at the free throw line, when Caitlyn Rayl made a pair of free throws, and Taedom Stein did the same, and the Cougars would trail 24-16 after the first quarter.

The Titans' lead would grow to double-digits again in the second quarter, but the two teams' defenses did their jobs, and neither team scored for almost three minutes.  A Samantha Hoelscher layup, and an Amy Jackson made three would keep the Cougars within striking distance at the half, as Detroit led 37-27.

The third quarter was Detroit, as the Titans turned up their defense and held Cleary to only eight points in the quarter, while scoring twenty-two points themselves to open up the game.  Cleary would fight to the end, but were unable to mount a comeback, as the Cougars lost by a final score of 81-55

Samantha Hoelscher led Cleary with 15 points and 9 rebounds, while Amy Jackson added 11 points.  Izzy Dugal chipped in 9 points off the bench.  Mileisha Rodriguez had 10 rebounds and a blocked shot.

Cleary is still 3-7 overall, and will be back in action next Friday, December 13, when they travel to Winona Lake, Indiana to take on the Grace College Lancers for a non-conference game.  The game is scheduled to begin at 11:00 AM.