LIVONIA, Mich. - Coming off their huge home victory over Great Lakes Christian College, the Crusaders returned to the court of Alliance Catholic Credit Union Arena to take on a Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) opponent, the Concordia University Ann Arbor Cardinals. After finding themselves down big in the first half, the Crusaders were able to rally back, nearly completing the comeback win. However, the Cardinals closed them out in the final seconds, and the Crusaders would fall 62-55.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Crusaders took a moment before the match to honor their teams' seniors: Bre'Aira Burton, Sophie Ruggles, and Sarah Tanderys.

The Crusaders play great out of the gate, matching the Cardinals on nearly every shot. As the first quarter dwindled down though, the shots seemed to stop falling for Madonna, with Concordia able to jump ahead at the end of the first 16-7. As the second quarter kicked off, it was much of the same story for the Crusaders as they were unable to find their rhythm offensively. Defensively, they played well, holding the Cardinals to just 11 points in the second. The Crusaders would go into the break down 27-14.

Luckily, the Crusaders were able to get back on track in the second half. The Cardinals still held onto the lead, but the Crusaders were back to matching them basket-for-basket. Eight minutes into the second half, Jac'Ana Anderson would finally cut the deficit back down to single digits with two big free throws. Just as Madonna seemingly had swept the momentum away from the Cardinals, a buzzer-beating three-pointer by the Cardinals would put them up 44-31 after three quarters.

Nonetheless, the Crusaders wouldn't let it get to them, and played some of their best basketball of the whole season in the fourth quarter. They came out shooting and were quickly able to chip away at the Cardinals' lead. With just over five minutes to play, a three-point play by Ashley Hill would make it a seven-point game, making a statement to the Cardinals that they weren't going down easy. They fought tooth-and-nail with the Cardinals to try and get the upper hand, going shot for shot in the games' final minutes. With thirty-seconds remaining, the Crusaders were only down five, But a heartbreaking three-point miss, followed by two Cardinal free throws would seal the game. Madonna would fall to the Cardinals 62-55.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
 

•  Anderson had one of her best games, leading the Crusaders in points with 16 and grabbing five rebounds.
• Hill wasn't far behind with 15 points and four rebounds.
• Ruggles led Madonna in rebounds with six.
• Paige Humerickhouse also recorded double-digit points with 11.
• The Crusaders outscored the Cardinals in the second half 41-35.

UP NEXT

The Crusaders will stay home for their last game of the season to take on the Saints of Aquinas College on Saturday, February 18th at 1:00 pm.

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