LIVONIA, Mich.-- Siena Heights used a decisive fourth-quarter surge to pull away from Madonna for a 69-59 victory on Saturday afternoon in Livonia, Mich., closing out a tight contest at the free-throw line and on the break.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
After Madonna had battled back to briefly grab the lead late in the third quarter, Siena Heights responded with a composed finish. The Saints outscored the Crusaders 20-11 in the fourth, turning a one-possession game into a double-digit margin over the final six minutes. Siena Heights repeatedly attacked the paint and capitalized at the stripe, going 24-for-31 on free throws, while limiting Madonna to just 11 points in the final quarter.
Madonna trailed 35-27 at halftime but made its strongest push out of the locker room. Pierce Cephas opened the third quarter with a 3-pointer to trim the deficit to 35-30, and the Crusaders kept chipping away until Terre'ya Moore buried a 3-pointer with 1:08 left in the third to give Madonna a 48-47 lead. The Crusaders poured in 21 points in the third quarter, matching Siena Heights' total from the opening frame and setting up a tense final 10 minutes.
Siena Heights quickly seized control back in the fourth. E'Moni Finch knocked down two free throws at the 9:35 mark to push the visitors ahead 51-48, and the Saints never trailed again. With Madonna pressing to answer, Siena Heights strung together stops and turned defense into offense, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Ty'Veonna Davis that stretched the lead to 61-52 with 6:04 remaining and a fastbreak layup by Jam Thigpen for a 67-52 cushion at the 3:34 mark.
The Crusaders' frontcourt did its best to keep the game within reach. Moore turned in a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds in 33 minutes, going 9-for-11 at the free-throw line and adding three assists. Cephas provided perimeter scoring with 18 points, including four 3-pointers, to go with six rebounds and four assists. Madonna held a 38-32 advantage on the glass and collected 13 offensive rebounds, but Siena Heights' physical interior defense forced many of those second chances into contested looks, limiting the Crusaders' efficiency around the rim.
Siena Heights countered Madonna's inside presence with balanced scoring and key shot-making on the perimeter. Kanyla Tyler led the Saints with 18 points and five rebounds, attacking the basket to earn a 10-for-13 performance at the line. Lauren DeWolf added 17 points, including three 3-pointers and a pair of free throws that tied the score 21-21 to end the first quarter, while Thigpen posted a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double and was involved in several momentum-shifting transition baskets.
Madonna matched Siena Heights shot-for-shot in the opening 10 minutes, as the teams ended the first quarter tied at 21. A cold second quarter, however, proved costly for the Crusaders. Madonna managed just six points in the period while Siena Heights built a 31-21 lead behind a 3-pointer from Davis and steady trips to the line. A late layup by Moore cut the deficit to 35-27 at the break, setting the stage for Madonna's third-quarter rally before the Saints ultimately controlled the closing stretch.
Despite the loss, Madonna's ability to erase an early double-digit deficit and briefly take the lead out of halftime underscored the team's resilience. With Moore and Cephas leading the way and the Crusaders maintaining a rebounding edge, Madonna positioned itself to contend down the stretch. The difference came in late-game execution, where Siena Heights' free-throw accuracy and timely transition offense separated the visitors in the final quarter.

UP NEXT:
The Crusaders will be back in action on Wednesday, February 4th as they travel to Lima, Ohio to take on the University of Northwestern Ohio Racers. Tip off is set for 5:30 PM.