LIVONIA, Mich. - After nearly eight months, basketball returned to Alliance Catholic Credit Union Arena today as the Madonna Crusaders began their 2024-25 campaign against the Great Lakes Christian College (GLCC) Crusaders. Madonna would dominate the visiting Crusaders in historic fashion, scoring the sixth-most points in school history in their 104-54 opening day victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Madonna immediately jumped out to an 8-0 lead to open things up, with sophomore Ashley Kopacko scoring the season's first basket. A steal from Dekota Smith on GLCC's first possession of the game, led to a layup by Chenelle King, her first basket as a Crusader. Junior Marcela Rodriguez would give Madonna the game's first double-digit lead with a three pointer to make it a 17-7 game midway through the first period. Rodriguez would follow up with a second three-pointer before the first quarter came to a close. They would cap off their flaming-hot first quarter with a buzzer-beating three from their go-to scorer Keairra Jennings; leading 32-17 after the first period.

In the second period, Madonna's hot start would begin to cool off, only scoring 17 more points as a team before the halftime intermission. Junior Terre'ya Moore would lead them with six points adn two rebounds this quarter, helping Madonna hold onto the lead going into halftime 49-32.

After the break, Madonna would come out in the third quarter revamped and with a new fire, shooting 64% as a team this quarter while holding the visitors to just eight points. King would get her rhythm, dropping eight points on 4-of-5 shooting this quarter. Junior Delani Robinson also burst onto the scene this quarter, knocking down two three pointers. Madonna would extend their lead to 79-40 with ten minutes left to play.

Staying hot going into the final period, Madonna would tack on 25 points before the final buzzer. With just over a minute to play, sophomore Ava Hernadez would knock down a three-pointer off of an assist from junior Paige Humerickhouse for Madonna's 100th point of the game; the first 100-point game for the program since the 2016-17 season.

Madonna would end the game with a 50-point margin of victory over the visiting Crusaders, winning 104-54 in their season opener.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Jennings led the team with 17 points, six rebounds and five assists on 7-of-14 shooting and 2-of-5 from three.
• King recorded 14 points, four assists and six rebounds on 7-of-14 shooting in her Crusader debut.
• Moore led the team with seven rebounds in addition to 13 points.
• Robinson scored 11 points on 3-of-7 from three.
• The Crusaders' 104 points are the sixth-most in school history and the first 100-point game since the 2016-17 season.

UP NEXT:

After opening up their season at home, the Crusaders will head down to Ohio to face the Wilberforce University Bulldogs next Wednesday, November 6 at 1:30 pm.