LIVONIA, Mich. - Ashley Zawisza's late go-ahead 3-pointer helped Madonna University (1-2) complete a comeback from eight points down and defeat Kansas Christian College (2-1) 67-62 on Friday, Nov. 6, in Livonia. The victory was Stephanie Fisher's first as head coach of the Crusaders.
Imani League and Lizzy Liedel opened the scoring for a 4-0 Madonna lead, but the Crusaders needed a Nadiyah Walsh 3-pointer to pull even at 14. Liedel's layup with eight seconds left tied the first quarter at 18 and capped a seven-point quarter. Kansas Christian moved ahead 27-20 on Sharmayne Jones' basket with 4:58 left in the second quarter. Madonna answered with a 6-0 run, finished by two Sheneice Halmon free throws, before Zylah Carter's basket off a Walsh assist with 25 seconds remaining brought the Crusaders within 33-30 at halftime.
Aleigha Jackson's basket pushed Kansas Christian's lead to 40-32 with 6:09 remaining in the third quarter. Walsh scored and Carter followed with a 3-pointer to spark Madonna's response. Teraja Williams completed a three-point play, making the lone free-throw attempt, to finish a 10-2 surge that tied the game at 42 with 2:35 left. Kansas Christian regained a five-point lead before Carter's layup cut the margin to 47-44 entering the fourth. Carter scored five points in the quarter.
The fourth quarter brought another series of momentum swings. Trailing 51-46, Madonna scored six straight points, with Liedel's basket at 5:09 producing the Crusaders' first lead since the opening quarter. Serenity Hardy answered with consecutive baskets for Kansas Christian, but Walsh scored on back-to-back possessions, including a 3-pointer, to put Madonna ahead 57-55. Zawisza assisted both baskets. Brittany Cato's three-point play briefly restored the visitors' lead before Zawisza connected from beyond the arc off a Liedel assist for a 60-58 advantage with 2:40 remaining.
Madonna's defense helped protect that lead. Liedel's steal set up Halmon's layup at 2:28, and an Adoreya Williams steal led to another Halmon layup at 1:19 for a 64-60 edge. Liedel assisted both baskets. Jackson brought Kansas Christian within two with 52 seconds left, but Liedel made both free throws with 21 seconds remaining. Williams made the second of two attempts with one second left to finish the scoring. The Crusaders outscored Kansas Christian 23-15 in the fourth quarter.
Halmon led Madonna with 16 points and five rebounds, while Walsh contributed 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting, five rebounds and three assists without a turnover. Liedel delivered 11 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and six steals, including three steals in the fourth quarter. Carter added seven points and six rebounds, matching the totals of the teammate whose three-point play tied the game in the third. Zawisza finished with four assists, and Leilah Howard blocked two shots.
The Crusaders overcame 36.6% shooting, including a 4-of-25 finish from 3-point range, with a 40-35 rebounding advantage and a 36-24 edge in paint points. Madonna's reserves outscored Kansas Christian's bench 44-2, and the Crusaders recorded 21 assists on 26 baskets. Kansas Christian shot 42.9% but committed 23 turnovers to Madonna's 20. Cato paced the visitors with 21 points and 10 rebounds, Jackson added 14 points and five assists, and Aleena Elise-Perez finished with 10 points and five assists.
Madonna Women's Basketball is back in action on Monday, November 6, 2026 when they travel to Big Rapids, MIchigan to take on the Bulldogs of Ferris State University for a 6:00 PM tip-off.