GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Golden Eagles have finished the regular season with a 14-16, 11-11 WHAC record earning them the sixth seed in the conference tournament that is set to begin on Wednesday evening. CU will travel to three seed Siena Heights on Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. tip. The winner of that game will take on the winner of the Concordia at Indiana Tech in the WHAC semifinals on Saturday afternoon. Live video/stats will be available for Wednesday's game at Siena Heights through cugoldeneagles.com.

Opponent: Siena Heights
Date: Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Time: 7:30 p.m. EST
Location: Adrian, Mich. (Siena Heights Fieldhouse)
Internet Coverage: Live Video/Stats
 
Scouting Siena Heights
After starting the year 1-4, 13-year veteran head coach Sue Syljebeck and the Saints have been on a mission going 21-4 the remainder of the season for a third place finish in the WHAC. SHU is lead by three time WHAC player of the week April Watson, who averages a double-double at 19.5 PPG and 10.8 RPG in her senior season with the Saints. Watson's, senior counterpart Jaaliyah Arrington is another offensive threat, averaging a team second best in scoring at 11.2 PPG and 1.7 APG. As a team, the Saints dominate on the boards ranking top 15 in the NAIA in rebounding margin (9.46), total offensive rebounds (1292), rebounds per game (43.06), and offensive rebounds per game (15.03). Siena Heights looks to work their way back to the WHAC Tournament finals where they have been two of the past three seasons.
 
Last Time vs. the Saints
Cornerstone continued their struggles in the SHU Fieldhouse last time out vs. the Saints, falling 73-50, resulting in a split of the regular season series. Siena Heights got off to a fast start in that one outscoring the Golden Eagles 20-8 in the first quarter. Jesse Sheridan was the only CU player in double-digits in the loss scoring 26 points on 11-20 shooting.
 
Conference Tournament vs. the Saints
Cornerstone and Siena Heights have matched-up in two conference tournament games in the past five years, and CU has lost both of them by a combined 31 points. The last time the Golden Eagles saw the Saints in the WHAC Tournament was in the 2013-14 season when CU fell 67-58.
 
WHAC Tourney History
Cornerstone has won six conference tourney championships in their history, with the last one coming in the 2008-09 season. Under Head Coach Katie Mattera, CU has yet to reach the finals of the tourney, making the semifinals twice and being dropped in the quarterfinals twice as well. Last year CU was the fifth seed in the tourney and traveled to Indiana Tech for quarterfinal action, falling 68-58.
 
WHAC Tournament Outlook
Other WHAC quarterfinal games include: (1) Davenport vs. (8) Aquinas, (2) Indiana Tech vs. (7) Concordia, and (4) Lawrence Tech vs. (5) Madonna.
 
Sheridan's Milestones
Jesse Sheridan scored 11 points last time out to give the sophomore exactly 1,000 points for her career. Sheridan becomes the fastest Golden Eagle to reach the mark after scoring 475 points her freshman season and tallying 525 in her sophomore year. With 22 more points Sheridan could crack the top five all-time season scoring list at CU, breaking Laura Yonkers 546 points from the 1999-00 season.
 
Statistically Speaking
The Golden Eagles continue to rank as one of the best in offensive rebounding, as the regular season came to an end last Saturday. CU has brought down 1212 offensive rebounds this season, ranking 27th in the NAIA and sixth in the WHAC this year. Individually, Jesse Sheridan is fifth in the conference in total scoring at 525 points and 16th in the NAIA, while also ranking second in the WHAC in free throw percentage at 81.0% and 32nd in the nation.
 
A look to Next Year
Cornerstone loses six seniors this season, but keeps three of their five starters. CU will be returning three key pieces in Jesse Sheridan, Cass Vredevoogd, and Lizzy Otten, as the trio combines to lead them in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, and blocks this season. CU will also return the top two scorers off the bench in Shaina DenBesten (5.3 PPG) and Taylor Richards (5.2 PPG).

Women's Basketball Contact: Jesse Campbell | Nathan-jesse.campbell@cornerstone.edu
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