LIVONIA, Mich. -- The Madonna University Women's Basketball team has won back-to-back games for the first time since the 2018-19 season thanks to a 10 point comeback and a 69-68 win over Lourdes University (Ohio) Saturday afternoon. 
  
HOW IT HAPPENED

The Crusaders started the game 0-4 from the field and the Gray Wolves jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead. It was not until five minutes into the first quarter where Madonna would get their first points of the game thanks to a three-pointer by Sarah Tanderys. After that, both teams were trading baskets and Madonna found themselves down 9-8 after one. 

In the second, once again, the Gray Wolves started the quarter on a 4-0 run to extend their lead to 13-8. Great play by Megan Aho and Sharon Woodard, who kept the Crusaders alive in this quarter as Aho had nine points on 4-6 shooting as well as 2 assists. Woodard had five points and went 2-2 from the field. However, eight turnovers by the Crusaders this period would help the Gray Wolves to lead 32-25 at the half.


In the first 3 minutes of the third, the Gray Wolves would outscore the Crusaders 8-5 to jump out to a 10 point lead; which was their largest of the night. However, the Crusaders were gearing up for yet another comeback attempt as in the last six minutes of the third quarter, Madonna outscored Lourdes 17-8 to cut the Gray Wolves lead down to one at 50-49.

In the fourth, Tanderys and Aho came up clutch once again. Tanderys scored eight points on 3-5 shooting and Aho had seven points and three assists. It was a back and forth final quarter and the Crusaders finally grabbed the lead with 6:03 left in the game. With just 13 seconds on the clock and the game tied at 67 apiece, Megan Aho drove to the basket and was fouled. Aho would go 2-2 from the line to give the Crusaders a 69-67 lead. 

In the ensuing possession, Lourdes would come down the court goes up for a layup, and would get fouled as well. However, they would only go 1-2 from the line and the Crusaders would cling to a 69-68 lead. On the inbounds, the Crusaders would not be able to get it in as it deflects off a Crusaders player's hands and Lourdes would have one final shot with two seconds left. Lourdes would run a sideline out-of-bounds play and had a great look at a three-pointer, but Aho comes flying out to block the shot and the Crusaders would get their second straight win of the season. 


INSIDE THE NUMBERS 
 

• Aho led the Crusaders with 25 points, six rebounds, six assists, four steals, and the game-winning block
• Tanderys came off the bench and finished the game with 15 points
• Woodard finished the game with 11 points and four assists
• Naomi Davis finished with eight points, three rebounds, and two assists
• Hudelson finished the game with seven points and nine rebounds

UP NEXT

The Crusaders head to Dearborn, Mich. Tuesday night to take on the 2-6 Wolverines of the University of Michigan-Dearborn, tip-off is at 5:30 p.m. 

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