GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Golden Eagles kept it close, but were unable to ever hold a lead in a close home battle with Madonna as they fell 66-60 Saturday afternoon. Foul trouble cost the Golden Eagles as Sterling DeGayner, Kennedy Helderop, and Ellen Kresge fouled out in the fourth quarter. CU now sits at 3-8, 0-3 WHAC as they will quickly return to action with another WHAC home game on Monday vs. Lawrence Tech for a 5 p.m. tip. 
 
Game Flow:

• Cornerstone got off to a slow start, being held to just two points in the first five and a half minutes as they trailed 7-2. 
• After trailing 13-6, Cornerstone rattled off a 5-0 run, highlighted by a Kennedy Helderop three to cut the deficit to two at 13-11. 
• The Crusaders went 7-13 from the field in the first quarter to hold a 21-16 advantage. 
• Early in the second quarter, Allyson Richards hit an and one to cut the deficit to four points at 23-19. 
• Madonna then rattled off a 10-0 run capped off by a Megan Aho three to increase their lead to as large as 14 with 3:07 to play in the half. 
• Cornerstone responded in a big way to end the first half, going on an 8-0 run highlighted by a Sterling DeGayner three to cut the deficit back to six. 
• Allyson Richards got to the line in the final seconds and hit both free throws to make the score 34-29 in favor of Madonna at the half. 
• The two teams traded buckets throughout the start of the third quarter, as CU was able to cut it to three on three occasions in the first five minutes of the period. 
• Shleby Nyboer began to get hot from the midrange toward the end of the third, hitting consecutive buckets to make it 47-43. 
• Madonna took 11 free throws in the third quarter and hit six to lead by four, 48-44 at the end of the period. 
• The CU defense stepped up big in the beginning of the fourth, holding the Crusaders scoreless for the first 2:30 of the fourth quarter. 
• With just under six minutes remaining, Allyson Richards got an offensive rebound and a bucket to tie the game at 50. This served as the first tie of the game since it was 2-2. 
• Madonna quickly responded with two easy layups to go back on top 54-50 and force the Golden Eagles into a timeout. 
• After MU increased the lead back to as many as eight, CU chipped away in the final minute with some defensive stops and quick layups to bring it back to a four-point game. The Crusaders hit their free throws down the stretch to take home a 66-60 road victory.

 

.@snyboer with a good spin and lay in to keep within two pic.twitter.com/V3v3X7FFXW

— Cornerstone WBB (@CornerstoneWBB) January 30, 2021

By the numbers:
40 – Shelby Nyboer (21) and Allyson Richards (19) combined for 40 of the Golden Eagles 60 points in the game. 
5/4 – Ellen Kresge recorded five rebounds, four of them being offensive boards. 
3 – Shelby Nyboer and Maddison Fulks tied for a team high three assists. 
49 – There were a total of 49 fouls in the game as Cornerstone committed 28 and Madonna committed 21. 
 
What's next? 
Cornerstone will have a quick turnaround as they host Lawrence Tech on Monday, February 1 for a 5 p.m. tip. 
 
Women's Basketball Contact: Seth Walters
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