LIVONIA, Mich. – The Madonna Crusaders Women's Basketball team remained at home for the backend of a short two-game homestand as they went up against the Warriors of Rochester University.  It was an up and down night for the Crusaders as they battled back throughout the second half to bring a 14-point deficit at half down to a 5-point game at one point with four minutes to go in the game. Despite the comeback attempt, the Crusaders fell by a score of 85-71. 

The Crusaders record now sits at 2-7 overall with a 0-4 conference record, while the Warriors record now improves to 3-8 and 2-2 in conference play.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The game started out as a defensive battle as neither team could get going as the score in the first five minutes was 6-4 in favor of the Warriors. Rochester then went on a 12-6 run to bring their lead up to 14. The Crusaders stayed close in the game thanks to a couple of baskets from Hannah Reinhold, Claire LeRoux, and Paige Boden to keep the game at a seven-point deficit after the first.
• The second quarter was a lot of back and forth play between the two teams were making shots at both ends of the court, but the Warriors were able to get more of theirs as they were able to outscore the Crusaders in the quarter by seven.The Warriors held a 14-point lead going into the break.
• The beginning of the quarter was once again a defensive battle as neither team was able to but the ball through the hoop for the first 2:19 when Reinhold hit a jumper that was able to kickstart the Crusader offense. They rallied back with a quick 6-2 run that put them within 10. In the last five minutes of the quarter, the Crusaders and Warriors battled back and forth as both teams were able to hit their shots. A basket from brown with three seconds remaining made the score differential 10 points at the end of the third.
• Both teams caught fire in the fourth as a total of 56 points were scored. The Crusaders started what would be a 9-0 run, which brought the lead down to five, with 5:32 remaining thanks to baskets from Naomi Davis, Victoria Guardiola, LeRoux, and Reinhold. Although it seemed to be the run the Crusaders needed o get back into the game the Warriors defense buckled down to hold out the win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• 5: Reinhold once again led the team tallying 23 points and 5 rebounds
• 34+: The Crusaders finished with 34 rebounds including 7 offensive and 27 rebounds, leading the Crusaders was Brown with 6 rebounds. While the Warriors recorded 47 rebounds including 14 offensive and 33 defensives and were led by Delaney Bolles with 11 rebounds.
• 39.3%:  The Blue and Gold shot the ball at a 39.3% clip while shooting 51.9% in the second half. The Warriors shot 43.3% throughout the game.
• 32: Guardiola was second on the team with 13 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals

UP NEXT:

• The Crusaders open up December when they travel to Fort Wayne, Ind. to take on the No. 4 team in the Warriors of Indiana Tech on December 4 with a 6 PM tipoff.
• Live coverage if available will be posted to mucrusaders.com

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