SYLVANIA, Ohio – It was a game Cornerstone controlled from the start. The Golden Eagles were up 10 at one point late in the third quarter and it looked like they sucked the life out of Lourdes. The Gray Wolves fought right back to take the lead late in the fourth quarter before Freshman Jaxi Long makes the game winning basket followed by Stephanie Ainsworth getting the game sealing block. A sequence that both girls will be able to remember for the rest of their lives. It was a great battle all game that saw all Cornerstone players contribute one way or another. Resulting in the victory for Cornerstone 68-66 to get to 11-9 (10-3) on the season. The Golden Eagles will look to continue their momentum as they host Indiana Tech on Wednesday, January 25 for a 5:30 p.m. game.
 
 
Game Highlights:

• First Quarter
  • Cornerstone and Lourdes were tied early 5-5 with seven-minutes remaining in the first quarter as Stephanie Ainsworth found a cutting Mackenzie Stein for an easy layup as Ainsworth followed that up with a three-point play.
  • Lourdes has used their fast pace to their advantage as they are putting up quick shots, getting offensive rebounds as Shae Pedroza has five of the nine points early for Lourdes.
  • Layna Steele would help Cornerstone end their field goal drought as she drained the first three of the game for the Golden Eagles, as they took their first lead 11-9 with 3:30 remaining in the first.
  • Kaycee Sluiter and Mackenzie Stein have found easy baskets for the Golden Eagles as they have gone on a little run as they have extended their lead 17-10 with one-minute remaining in the first quarter.
  • Emma Pedroza nails a three-quarters court buzzer beater to end the quarter as Cornerstone still leads 18-13.
• Second Quarter
  • Lourdes has used the first two-minutes to go on a run to tie the game 19-19 before Maddison Fulks drained a corner three to retake the lead 22-19. Lourdes has ramped up their defensive pressure on the Golden Eagles as baskets around the rim have been harder to come by.
  • Cornerstone and Lourdes have now been trading baskets as both teams have not been able to miss but Cornerstone is still hanging onto the lead 31-29. It has been a balanced scoring attack for the Golden Eagles as every player who has seen the court, has scored.
  • Cornerstone heads into halftime leading 33-31. Both teams have been going with a fast-paced offensive style of play as they are both around 39% from the field. Stephanie Ainsworth and Mackenzie Stein are leading the way for the Golden Eagles with six-points apiece.
• Third Quarter
  • The Golden Eagles got off to a great start as they used the first 0:45 seconds to score four quick points to get up 37-31 as Mackenzie Stein and Kennedy Helderop had easy layups.
  • Yet just like that, Lourdes responded strongly with five-straight points of their own to make it 37-36, keeping Cornerstone from extending their lead any farther.
  • Jaxi Long drains a corner three and then a nice cut by Maddison Fulks for a layup gave Cornerstone the 44-38 lead with just under six-minutes remaining in the third quarter.
  • After a Lourdes three made it 44-41, Cornerstone has gone on a 7-0 run to grab their biggest lead of the game 51-41. Jaxi Long nailed another corner three as Mackenzie Stein and Kennedy Helderop helped each other out finding one another for back-door layups.
  • Lourdes uses the final three-minutes to go on a 9-4 run to close out the third quarter as Cornerstone continues to lead 55-50.
• Fourth Quarter
  • Jaxi Long and the left corner is her best friend as she drains another corner three to stop the Lourdes momentum to extend the Cornerstone lead back to six, 58-52.
  • Lourdes has come out as the aggressors to start the fourth quarter as they are down two, 60-58 with seven-minutes remaining. The Gray Wolves defense has turned turnovers into points during this run.
  • Cornerstone and Lourdes have been battling on the defensive ends as the Golden Eagles are holding onto a two-point lead with little four-minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
  • Lourdes took their first lead since the first quarter 64-63 after a Halle Barnett layup with 2:16 remaining in the final quarter.
  • A foul off a missed free throw gave Lourdes a pair of free throws to extend their lead. They made both and made it a 66-64 Lourdes lead. Stephanie Ainsworth responded with a tough layup to tie it 66-66 with 0:40 second remaining.
  • Off the Cornerstone timeout, Jaxi Long drives to the basket and scores with 0:04 second remaining. Lourdes drives down the court just for Stephanie Ainsworth to block it. Cornerstone wins 68-66.

By the Numbers
4 – Four Cornerstone players were in double digits in scoring as Jaxi Long led the way with 14.
12/11 – Stephanie Ainsworth recorded another double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
8 – Kennedy Helderop finished with a game high eight assists to bring her season total over 100 on the season
 
What's Next?
The Golden Eagles return home to face off against #14 Indiana Tech on Wednesday, January 25 for a 5:30 p.m. game.
 
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