HOME OPENER SPOILED BY BETHEL

11/5/2008 12:00:00 AM

By: Patrick Moore
LIVONIA, Mich. - - The Madonna women's basketball team's home opener was spoiled Wednesday night (Nov. 5) by a comeback win by visiting Bethel 65-64. MU falls to 0-3 on the season while BC improves to 1-1 on the young season.
The Crusaders stormed out of the gates, taking as much as a 13 point lead with 14:14 left in the opening half on a Kim Olech (Canton, Mich.) jumper to make it 20-7 MU. The Pilots cut into the Crusader lead, cutting it to as few as two on a Jordan Robbins triple to make it 26-24.

MU used a jumper from Alyssa Guerin (Plymouth, Mich.) and a three point play from Sheryl Jager (Wyandotte, Mich.) to take an eight point lead at 34-26 with 3:17 showing on the clock. A triple from Katie Mount (Waterford, Mich.) with 1:36 left in the half gave MU a seven point lead heading into the locker room.

Tabatha Wydryck (Wyandotte, Mich.) split a pair of free throws to give the Crusaders an eight point lead with just 35 seconds gone in the second half. From there Bethel went on a 10-2 run to take a one point lead at 40-39 with 16 minutes to go. Madonna regained the lead on a Jager lay-up and an Olech jumper in the lane to take a 44-40 lead with 15:10 left.

The two sides traded buckets over the next nine minutes until a pair of Christie Carrico (Waterford, Mich.) free throws gave the Crusaders a 56-55 lead with 6:45 left. The Crusaders built the lead out to as many as six on two separate occasions, the final one coming with 2:39 left when Olech split a pair of charity tosses to put MU in front 64-58.

Bethel then used back-to-back scores from Mandy Yoder, the second being a triple to cut the Madonna lead to one at 64-63. MU could not crack the scoring column again the remaining 1:39, missing three shots and a pair of free throws to set up Brittany Cook's game winning shot with seven seconds left. Cook hit a shot jumper in the lane to give Bethel a 65-64 lead. The Crusaders last gasp effort fell short and MU suffered its second straight one point loss.

Guerin led four Madonna players in double figures with 14 points while Wydryck added 12 and Jager and Mount each had 11 for the Crusaders. Carrico and Olech grabbed eight boards each to lead Madonna. Yoder led Bethel with 21 points while Amber Peters led all players with 21 rebounds to go along with 11 points for a double-double.

The Crusaders return to action Thursday night, traveling to IU-South Bend for a 7pm tip with the Titans.
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