GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Golden Eagles are in search of their first win of the 2021-22 year as they return home to face two more Crossroads League foes in (25) Taylor and Bethel. The week opens vs. Taylor on Tuesday at 6 p.m. and ends with Bethel on Saturday at 11 a.m. Beat the line in getting tickets by preordering HERE. Watch this week's action live HERE.


Last Week Recap

The Golden Eagles opened 2021-22 season with their new look young roster and did well defensively, holding opponents to just 70 and 68 points, but they could not get the offense going as they scored 56 in the opener and 58 at Huntington to fall to 0-2 on the year. A pair of newcomers led the team in scoring the first week as Mackenzie Stien averaged 13.0 a game and Olivia Kubik averaged 12.0 a game. 

Record vs. #25

Cornerstone plays their first NAIA Top 25 opponent this week as they host number 25 Taylor on Tuesday. Cornerstone has been successful against the number 25 team in the country since Mol Arena opened in 2000, going 5-1 against teams ranked 25th in the last 21 years. 

Record in Mol 

Last season Cornerstone recorded their 200th all-time win in Mol Arena. CU is now looking to keep improving upon the 200-89 record inside Mol since the building opened. Over the last three years where the Golden Eagles have struggled, CU has seen just four wins inside Mol Arena with two last season and one in each of the previous two seasons. 

History vs. Taylor 

Cornerstone has played Taylor eight times in their history and gone 1-7 in those recordable contest. CU has lost the last six meetings with their lone win coming in 2002, 65-62  inside Mol Arena. The two teams met each of the last two years and CU has lost both, falling in 2019 76-67 and 107-59 in 2020. 

History vs. Bethel

Cornerstone has had an even history with Bethel, going 9-11 all-time against the Pilots. Cornerstone lost the last two meetings, but won in 2017 61-48. CU is competing in a home-and-home with the Pilots as they traveled to Mishawaka last year and fell 116-84. 

Scouting Taylor

Despite being ranked 25th in the NAIA Preseason Poll, Taylor has seen some early season struggles going 1-2 overall. The Trojans beat Madonna to start the year, then lost to Olivet Nazarene and Trinity Christian in the Bethel Tip-Off Classic this past weekend. Taylor is coached by Jody Martinez who is in his fifth season at the helm and has been very successful, leading Taylor to the National Tournament in three of his first four seasons. So far in 2021-22, Taylor is led by senior forward Kayla Kirtley and sophomore guard Claycee West who each have 16.0 points per game. 

Scouting Bethel

Third year Head Coach Doug Porter is starting to see the success as part of his new system he implemented as the Pilots are 3-0 to start the year, including a win over number 20 Olivet Nazarene. Bethel plays a high press and forces a ton of turnovers, ranking third in the NAIA in steals per game at 24.0. The steals have led to easy points as Bethel ranks third in the NAIA as well in points per game at 101.7. Everyone sees minutes in the Pilots system as well as 18 girls have played and nine of those players average over five points per game.