LIVONIA, Mich. - After defeating Defiance College on the road to secure their first conference win of the season, the Madonna Crusaders (3-6, 1-3) returned home to ACCU Arena to take on the Rochester Christian Warriors (6-2, 1-2). While the Warriors' got off to a hot start to the 2024-25 season, they had yet to play the Crusaders who were not phased by their early-season success. The Crusaders showed why they are significantly better than their record shows, with four players scoring in double-digits as they imposed their will on the Crusaders. Led by their point guard Ahmoni Weston, who stepped up big with 26 points and zero turnovers, the Crusaders cruised to an 81-65 victory over the Warriors.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The Warriors came into ACCU Arena as one of the most highly-touted teams in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference two weeks into conference play. However, the Crusaders were prepared to upend that narrative and get back on track in WHAC play. 

A first-possession steal from Matthew MacLellan led to the Crusaders scoring first off of a fastbreak layup by their point guard Ahmoni Weston. However, the Warriors would control the court for a majority of the opening half. After their first-basket lead, the Crusaders would not regain the lead until a three-pointer from Brendan Young gave them a 17-14 lead ten minutes in.

The Warriors would keep it close until the final minutes of the half as the Crusaders would pull away. In the closing seconds, a steal and fastbreak dunk by Weston would silence the Warriors, ending the half with the Crusaders leading 41-33.

The second half was all Crusaders as they continued to grow their lead. Five points from guard Ethan Emerzian in the opening minutes of the half gave the Crusaders' a double-digit lead. The Warriors would try to climb back, but to no avail as the Crusaders led for the entirety of the second half.

Despite only scoring two points in the contest, Crusader guard Isaac Anderson was instrumental in the Crusaders' victory with a career-high 17 rebounds, the fifth-most in program history. 

In a true team victory, the Crusaders won 81-65 and moved to 2-3 in conference play.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Weston scored a career-high 26 points with zero turnovers on 10-of-19 shooting.
• Anderson scored a career high 17 rebounds and recorded six assists.
• Emerzian scored 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting.
• Young scored 19 points and had six rebounds.

UP NEXT:

The Crusaders will look to pick up their third-straight win as they head to UM Dearborn next week after finals wrap up. Tip-off is set for 3:00 pm on Saturday, December 14.