Cephas
49
Madonna MADONNA 7-19, 4-16
86
Winner Indiana Tech INDIANA 22-4, 19-1
Madonna MADONNA
7-19, 4-16
49
Final
86
Indiana Tech INDIANA
22-4, 19-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Madonna MADONNA 8 16 11 14 49
Indiana Tech INDIANA 18 23 27 18 86

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Williams Scores 18 as Madonna Falls at Indiana Tech

FORT WAYNE, IN -- Indiana Tech used a decisive first-half surge and a barrage of 3-pointers to hand Madonna an 86-49 road loss Saturday afternoon at the Schaefer Center.
The Crusaders fell behind early as the Warriors opened the game with an 18-8 advantage after the first quarter and never relinquished control. Indiana Tech's pressure defense and transition offense set the tone, forcing turnovers and turning them into points at the rim and beyond the arc. Madonna trailed 41-24 at halftime and faced a 23-point deficit heading into the fourth quarter as the hosts continued to pull away.
Senior guard Adoreya Williams led Madonna with 18 points, going 6-for-15 from the field and a perfect 4-for-4 at the free-throw line while knocking down two 3-pointers. Pierce Cephas added 11 points and three rebounds, attacking the lane and earning trips to the foul line. However, the Crusaders struggled to find consistent scoring elsewhere, finishing 18-of-47 (38.3 percent) from the floor and 3-of-12 (25.0 percent) from beyond the arc.
Indiana Tech built its early cushion with a 6-0 start, fueled by a layup from Madison Vice, a fastbreak finish from Taylor Covington after a steal, and an offensive putback from Jaidyn Gulley. Madonna briefly cut into the margin in the second quarter behind a 3-pointer from Terre'ya Moore that made it 20-11, then continued to battle to stay within striking distance. Williams and Cephas combined to get the Crusaders to 24 points by the break, but a late 3-pointer from Vice with nine seconds left in the half pushed the Warriors' lead back to 17.
The third quarter proved to be the separation point. Indiana Tech opened the frame with a layup from Gulley and a 3-pointer from Covington, sparking a 27-point quarter for the Warriors. Multiple Crusader turnovers led directly to transition opportunities, and Indiana Tech's shooting from deep—13 made 3-pointers overall—stretched the defense. Vice and Durbin Thomas each connected from long range in the period, helping extend the margin to 68-35 after three.
Madonna continued to compete in the fourth, with Williams drilling a 3-pointer at the 4:06 mark and adding a jumper in the final seconds to close out her team-high scoring effort. The Crusaders finished with 31 rebounds, including 26 on the defensive glass, but Indiana Tech's ball movement and shooting efficiency proved difficult to contain. The Warriors shot 52.3 percent (34-of-65) from the field and 41.9 percent (13-of-31) from 3-point range while recording 28 assists to just six turnovers.
Turnovers and perimeter defense were key differences in the outcome. Madonna committed 17 turnovers, which Indiana Tech converted into 11 steals and numerous fastbreak opportunities. The Crusaders were limited to three assists on their 18 made field goals, while Indiana Tech's balanced attack featured five players with at least three assists, led by Covington's 23-point, 11-assist double-double. Despite the result, Williams' efficient scoring and Cephas' double-figure contribution offered positives for Madonna to build on moving into the next stretch of the schedule.
 
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