GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Cornerstone is coming off their first win of the year in exciting fashion vs. Bethel and are now set to take on two talented teams to open WHAC play as they host (14) Indiana Tech and Aquinas this week. Action opens vs. Indiana Tech on Wednesday, November 10 at a unique 3 p.m. start time, and will conclude vs. Aquinas for the standard 1 p.m. tip on Saturday. To avoid lines, you can purchase tickets ahead of time HERE. To watch the games live visit HERE for video and stat links.
Crossroads Tour Comes to an End
The Golden Eagles opened the season with four Crossroads League foes from Indiana and went 1-3 in those games. The tour will now be on hold, as the team opens WHAC play this week vs. Indiana Tech and Aquinas. CU will continue non-conference play in December where they will see one more Crossroads League in Spring Arbor at their place on December 18.
Assist Queen's
In the Golden Eagles win over Bethel, the team recorded 26 assists the third most since the 2003-04 season. In 2003-04, CU recorded 33 which was according to records the program record until October 27, 2017 when the team recorded 38 assists at Olivet Nazarene in a double-overtime game. The interesting thing about that game with ONU is the Tigers play the same style as Bethel where they full-court press the whole game and try to speed up their opponents.
Career High for Kresge
Senior Ellen Kresge will be the first to tell you she is not on the floor for her offensive game, but against Bethel all things changed as she recorded a career high 21 points including 3-3 from deep. Kresge as a freshman scored 22 points for her season, as a sophomore she scored 62 points, as a junior she scored 34.
Depth
The Golden Eagles proved their depth in the win vs. Bethel going 12-deep as a team. Cornerstone has played 14 players on the season and has eight players averaging double-digit minutes per game.
Scouting Indiana Tech
The Warriors open the 2021-22 season ranked 14th in the NAIA after finishing second in the WHAC in 2020-21. This season they are 5-0 with their largest win coming vs. Miami-Hamilton at 110-38. Indiana Tech saw all but one of their seniors return for the COVID fifth year as well with four grad students or seniors.
The team is incredibly balanced overall as Emma Tuominen and Erika Foy average 13.4 and 13.2 PPG respectively. IIT is lights out from three as well, shooting 33.3% this season on a 35-105 clip.
Scouting Aquinas
The Saints are another veteran team in the WHAC with 10 upperclassmen as they sit at 1-2 on the year with losses to Indiana Wesleyan and Ohio Christian. AQ is a defensive juggernaut holding opponents to just 63 points per game, but the offensive side is a struggle scoring just 56 points per game at a 40.4% clip. Marissa Brady missed the first two games of the year but came back at Ohio Christian and scored a team high 19 points to go along with nine rebounds.
History vs. Opponents
Head Coach Jessica Yonkers and the Golden Eagles have yet to beat either of this week's opponents since she took over, going 0-6 against both Indiana Tech and Aquinas. Cornerstone defeated Indiana Tech in the WHAC Tournament Semifinal back in 2018 on their way to a WHAC Tournament Title and last defeated Aquinas in that same season.
