GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. –  In a defensive battle that saw both teams shooting just over 30%, Cornerstone got to honor their four senior athletes and one manager with a big 61-57 rivalry win over Aquinas on Saturday afternoon. Olivia Kubik and Maddison Fulks hit huge buckets down the stretch to pull away as the game was tied at 50 in the final minutes. CU is now 13-11, 12-5 WHAC as they hit the road for the final three regular season games starting at Siena Heights on Wednesday at 6 p.m. 
 
Game Flow:
First Quarter:

• On Senior Day, Cornerstone started the game with all four seniors on the floor. Injured Layna Steele was able to get a touch on the ball one final time before CU opened the game with a timeout. 
• With still three of the four seniors still on the floor, Cornerstone got off to a great start scoring the first six points of the game, including a long jumper from Kaycee Sluiter. 
• In the fast paced first quarter, the teams traded threes. Maddison Fulks and Jaxi Long each hit one for CU, while AQ's Isabel Reemsnyder hit one to make the score 12-7 in favor of the Golden Eagles. 
• The quarter would end with Maddison Fulks staying hot. She hit a three to give CU a 17-11 lead at the end of the first. 

Second Quarter:

• The Saints would start the second quarter on a 5-0 run to cut the deficit within one, 17-16. 
• CU finally got the post presence of Stephanie Ainsworth involved to end the run with a fast break and-one bucket for her first points. Ainsworth would miss the free throw, but Jaxi Long would get the offensive board and a putback bucket for a quick four-point possession that would put Cornerstone back on top 21-16. 
• The offense slowed down in the final six minutes of the half. The two teams combined for 12 points to end the half as CU led 27-22 at the intermission. CU saw six players score in the first half with Maddison Fulks leading the way with 10. 

Third Quarter: 

• After two free throws to open the third from Mackenzie Stien, Aquinas inched their way back to within one with two easy layups and a pair of free throws. AQ would call a timeout trailing 29-28 with 7:32 to play in the third. 
• Aquinas would take the lead after the timeout with an Alexis Thomas layup that made it 30-29. 
• CU immediately got the lead back with a nice pass from Stephanie Ainsworth into Mackenzie Stien for two. 
• The Saints zone would stifle the Golden Eagle offense as CU was held scoreless for over three minutes before Stephanie Ainsworth found a bucket. AQ led 37-35 with just over two minutes to go in the third. 
• Stephanie Ainsworth scored again right at the end of the quarter to tie the game at 39 all. 

Fourth Quarter:

• The defenses continued to shine to start the fourth. Neither team scored for the first minute and a half of the period. 
• Jaxi Long got the first points of the fourth quarter on the board with a corner three off the pass from Mackenzie Stien to put CU back on top 42-39. 
• Maddison Fulks added a big three from the same spot as Long to make the Golden Eagle lead four, 47-43. 
• With six minutes to play, Brighton Miller hit a big three for the Saints to keep the lead changes going as they went back on top 48-47. After the bucket AQ would use a timeout. 
• With the Saints up 50-47 on a 7-0 run, Olivia Kubik ended the CU scoring drought with a huge three to tie the game at 50 with 4:07 to play. 
• Just as she did in the road game at AQ, Olivia Kubik continued to hit big shots with another three to put CU on top 54-50 with 2:25 to play. 
• A Mackenzie Stien iso bucket would ice the game with just over a minute to play as CU went on top 56-51. 
• Maddison Fulks added a field goal, and CU would hit their free throws on the way to a 61-57 victory. 

By the numbers:
9 – The Golden Eagles four seniors combined for nine points on the day. 
48-44 – Cornerstone won the rebounding battle 48-44. 
15/3 – Maddison Fulks led the way for CU with 15 points hitting three deep balls. 
 
What's next? 
Cornerstone begins the regular season ending three game road trip at Siena Heights on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. tip. 
 
Women's Basketball Contact: Jesse Campbell
CU Athletics: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Women's Basketball: Facebook | Twitter