Women's Basketball Rolls to Third Straight Win After Defeating Crusaders

(Livonia, MI)-- The Cleary Cougar women's basketball team took care of business Saturday afternoon, as they defeated the Madonna University Crusaders 66-54 en route to their third straight victory.

After spotting Madonna five points to start the game, Cleary would get on the board with ten points in a row to take the lead.  Madonna would cut that lead back to one before Samantha Hoelscher and Jess Andrew made back to back layups to give the Cougars a 14-11 lead late in the first quarter.  Madonna would hit a pair of free throws, and the Cougars would hold that lead to the first intermission, with a 14-11 lead.

Samantha Hoelscher would convert an and-on layup opportunity to start the second quarter, extending Cleary's lead to six points on their first possession.  Hoelscher would make one of two free throws, followed by an Izzy Dugal layup, to give Cleary a 20-11 advantage.  Another Samantha Hoelscher layup would make it 22-11, their largest lead of the first half.  Madonna would climb back into the game, and were able to get back within four points by the break, but the Cougars still led 31-27 at the half.

The third quarter would be all Cleary, as the Cougars outscored Madonna 17-8 to take control of the game.  Izzy Dugal scored four straight points to kick things off, and Jess Andrew made a jumper to give the Cougars a double-digit advantage out of the gates.  Two more Samantha Hoelscher free throws matched and then set the largest lead of the game up to that point.  The Cougars continued to feed the hot hand in Izzy Dugal, and it paid off, as she was able to extend Cleary's lead to sixteen points with a 45-29 score.  Madonna would show some life to finish the quarter, but it would remain a thirteen point lead for the Cougars heading into the final ten minutes of action, with the score 48-35.

Izzy Dugal once again scored the first four points of the quarter, then Jess Andrew hit a three, giving Cleary a 55-35 lead.  Madonna would keep fighting to stay in the game, but Cleary had an answer for each shot the Crusaders offered, and were able to maintain their comfortable lead.  Madonna would hit a couple of late threes to get within eleven points, but that would be as close as they could get, as the Cougars would hold on to win 66-54.

Izzy Dugal had a game high 25 points, on 10/14 shooting, to go with 8 rebounds to lead the Cougar offense.  Samantha Hoelscher also reached double-digits with 17 points and 8 rebounds.

The win improves Cleary's record to 10-8 overall, 8-4 in the WHAC.  The Cougars will return to road action next week, with a pair of games in West Michigan.  Cleary will travel to Grand Rapids on Wednesday to play the Aquinas College Saints with sole possession of fourth place on the line.  The game is scheduled to begin at 5:30 PM.