LIVONIA, Mich. - The Crusaders returned home for a rematch against the Golden Eagles of Cornerstone University. Despite the heartbreaking final score, the Crusaders played like an entirely new team tonight, with an explosive energy that they haven't had all year. In the end, though, they fell to a tough Cornerstone team 70-61.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Crusader forward Marcela Rodriguez came out on fire with nine points out of the gate to give Madonna an early 9-7 lead. Her hot hand helped give the Crusaders an energy that they haven't been able to find all season as they continued to surge throughout the first half. The Golden Eagles may have been up 13-9 by the end of the first quarter, but the Crusaders had all the momentum. They continued to feed Rodriguez as she scored the first bucket of the second quarter. Two quick free throws from Ashley Hill tied up the game, and on the next possession, a huge three-point swish from Delani Robinson gave the Crusaders the lead back 16-13. It was a wild back-and-forth as both teams fought tooth and nail for the lead. Neither team went up by more than a bucket at a time for the rest of the half. The stalemate would result in a 29-29 score going into the break.

Rodriguez stayed hot, scoring the first Crusader points of the second half. However, the Golden Eagles would end the Crusaders' hot streak and begin to pull away as the quarter drew to a close. A three-pointer from Sarah Tanderys would keep the Crusaders in the game going into the fourth quarter, 49-42. The Crusaders left everything on the court in the fourth quarter. Nine points from Robinson in the final minutes would help cut the deficit, but the Crusaders were unable to complete the comeback. Two Cornerstone free throws in the final seconds would seal the Crusaders' fate: 70-61.


INSIDE THE NUMBERS
 

• Robinson led the Crusaders in scoring with 18 and shot 43% from three.
• Hill recorded 17 points and three rebounds.
• Rodriguez had a career night with 13 points and eight rebounds.
• Sophie Ruggles led the team once again in rebounds with 13, continuing her stellar defensive season.

UP NEXT

The Crusaders will continue their stretch of home games as they host the Warriors of Rochester University on Saturday, January 20th at 1:00 pm.

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