HUNTINGTON, Ind. - Madonna University (0-1) surrendered 28 consecutive points after taking an early lead and fell 106-49 to Huntington (IN) (2-0) in its season opener Saturday, Oct. 31, at Platt Arena. Leilah Howard led the Crusaders with 13 points off the bench.
Lizzy Liedel opened the scoring with a basket in the paint and one free throw for a 3-0 Madonna lead with 8:28 remaining in the first quarter. Peyton Hartsough tied the game with a 3-pointer before assisting on Addie Shank's go-ahead 3-pointer at 6:48. Madonna went 1-of-15 from the field in the quarter, while Hannah Higgs hit Huntington's fifth 3-pointer with seven seconds left to make it 23-3.
Alexis Neely extended Huntington's unanswered run to 28 points with a basket at 7:57 of the second quarter. Liedel stopped the run with one free throw at 7:37, then connected on a 3-pointer assisted by Ashley Zawisza to cut the deficit to 28-7. Howard added five points in the quarter, including a 3-pointer off another Zawisza assist at 1:52. The Crusaders scored 16 points in the quarter, but Esther Moore's 3-pointer with two seconds remaining sent Huntington into halftime ahead 49-19.
Madonna produced its highest-scoring quarter in the third, making 8-of-17 shots and scoring 19 points. Adoreya Williams scored inside to end Huntington's 11-0 start to the half. Later, Howard hit a 3-pointer before Teraja Williams followed a steal with a basket off Zawisza's assist, giving Madonna five unanswered points. Howard scored eight in the quarter, but Liv Raby countered with 11 as Huntington outscored the Crusaders 34-19 to take an 83-38 lead.
Howard finished 5-of-8 from the field and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Liedel scored 11 points, making 6-of-7 free throws, and added two steals. Imani League contributed nine points and two steals, while Zawisza collected seven rebounds and five of Madonna's eight assists. Neely led Huntington with 15 points, Bailey Kelham scored 14, Raby had 13 points and 11 rebounds and Higgs added 12 points.
The Crusaders shot 30% overall and 4-of-18 from 3-point range, compared with Huntington's 49.3% shooting and 20-of-45 performance from beyond the arc. The hosts held a 53-30 rebounding advantage, converted Madonna's 18 turnovers into 26 points and received 72 points from their bench. Madonna scored 28 points in the paint and recorded eight steals, generating 12 points off Huntington's 14 turnovers.
Ashley Kopacko scored four of Madonna's 11 fourth-quarter points. Sheneice Halmon turned a steal into a basket with 2:24 remaining, and Kopacko followed League's steal with the Crusaders' final basket at 1:45, making it 100-49. Huntington completed its 23-point fourth quarter with Jillian Salts' 3-pointer at 56 seconds and Neely's 3-pointer with 17 seconds left.
Madonna Women's Basketball is back in action on Wednesday, November 4, 2026 when they travel to Joliet, Illinois to face the University of St. Francis (Ill.). This game is set to take place at the Pat Sullivan Center at 5:00 PM.