Women's Basketball Returns to WHAC-tion With Victory Over Wolverines

(Dearborn, MI)-- The Cleary Cougar women's basketball team played their first game in over two weeks, but were able to make the plays they needed to secure an 82-62 victory Saturday afternoon against the Michigan-Dearborn Wolverines.

The two teams would trade baskets in the early goings, but a Cougar 10-0 run would give Cleary a 12-4 lead in the first quarter.  After trading baskets the rest of the first ten minutes, Samantha Hoelscher would hit a layup with seconds remaining to give Cleary a ten point lead through the first quarter of play.

Cleary would see their lead grow deeper into double-digits in the second quarter, as Taedom Stein made a layup, followed by a Samantha Hoelscher layup, making the score 27-12, the largest lead of the first half.  UM-D would go on a run, cutting the deficit to seven points late in the half, but a Samantha Hoelscher and-one layup and free throw just before the half would give Cleary a ten point lead once again.

The third quarter was all Cleary, as they were able to double their lead by the halfway point of the quarter, and led 49-29 at that point.  A pair of Amy Jackson free throws, and a made Jackson three pointer would give Cleary a 60-38 lead.  In the fourth quarter, Cleary's lead would grow to as many as twenty-nine points after a Taedom Stein layup made the score 75-46.  Cleary would rotate players in, and Dearborn would finish the game strong, but Cleary held on to win by twenty with the 82-62 victory.

Samantha Hoelscher and Amy Jackson each had 17 points to lead CU, with Hoelscher having 6 steals, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists.  Izzy Dugal was stellar off the bench, with 16 points on 7/8 shooting with 5 rebounds.  Mileisha Rodriguez had 8 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks, while Taedom Stein almost had her first triple-double with 9 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists.

Cleary improves to 5-9 overall, 4-3 in the WHAC.  The Cougars will return to Gannon Gymnasium on Wednesday, January 8, when they host the Lourdes Gray Wolves for a 5:30 PM WHAC tip-off.