Women's Basketball Cruises to Fourth Straight Victory

(Lansing, MI)-- For the second consecutive game, the Cleary Cougar women's basketball team built a lead and never trailed, as they would go on to win 64-46 over the visiting Siena Heights Saints Saturday afternoon in Lansing. 

Jess Andrew got the action started, and after a Melanin Holman free throw, Izzy Dugal scored to make it a 5-0 game.  Izzy Dugal would help the lead grow to seven points after making a jumper, and the Cougars led 9-2.  Another Izzy Dugal basket extended the lead to nine points.  Still leading by nine on their final possession of the first quarter, Melanin Holman hit a three, to give the Cougars an 18-6 lead through the first ten minutes.

Izzy Dugal would hit a three to start the second quarter, and then Grace Capling hit another three pointer, and within two minutes, Cleary's lead had grown to 24-8.  Grace Capling would connect on another three to extend the Cleary lead to eighteen points.  The Cleary offense would slow down to finish the half, but the Saints would be unable to truly get back into the game, and the score would favor the Cougars 33-18 at the break.

Jess Andrew would start the second half with a made jumper, and then Samantha Hoelscher connected on a pair of free throws to make it a 37-18 game.  The Saints would show some fight, and were able to cut the Cleary lead to twelve points, but the Cougars would hold on into the fourth quarter to lead 47-34 with ten minutes to play.  

With 8:12 left in the game, Siena Heights had made it a 48-38 game, and two possessions later, they made it a single-digit game after making a pair of free throws.  Cleary would respond, and went on a run to ice the game, creating a double-digit lead, to see out the game, and ultimately winning 64-46.

Izzy Dugal had a career high 29 points to go with 8 rebounds.  Melanin Holman had 13 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists, while Samantha Hoelscher added 10 points and 14 rebounds.

Cleary, who has now won four games in a row, is now 6-5 overall, and 4-2 in the WHAC.  The Cougars will play their final game before the holidays on Wednesday when they host the Lourdes University Gray Wolves on Wednesday, December 17.  The game is set to begin at 5:30 PM.