WOMEN’S BASKETBALL AIMS TO MAINTAIN MOMENTUM AT MADONNA

LIVONIA, Mich. - Women's Basketball (4-4, 1-1) will look to build off its previous win against Aquinas with a matchup on Wednesday night against the Madonna Crusaders (2-3, 0-2). Rochester will look for its 12th straight win in the matchup's history.

THREE KEY THINGS

WARRIORS LOOK TO CONTINUE UTILIZING DEPTH

In a theme similar to last season, Rochester has not been shy about having any player in the rotation step up for a big game. The Warriors utilize a deep bench with multiple players taking on significant offensive and defensive roles.

One great example of that depth was the performance of forward Ashley Loon in the team's most recent game, where she scored 20 points on highly efficient shooting in her first big outing of the season. Rochester has had six players lead the team in scoring in games during the 2023-24 campaign.

CRUSADERS SHOW STRONG IMPROVEMENT

After a disappointing 2-25 finish last season, the Crusaders have already equaled their win total with wins against Wilberforce and Judson before conference play. The Crusaders are still looking for their first conference win since the 2021-22 season.

The Crusaders are led in scoring by guard duo Aaliyah McQueen and Keairra Jennings, who both have shown scoring prowess and tenacity on the boards. The two combine for 25.1 points and 11.6 rebounds per game.

ROCHESTER LOOKS TO EVEN ALL-TIME SERIES

The all-time series between the two teams has been a tale of two halves. The Crusaders began the series 13-0 before Rochester took its first win in 2018. Since then, it's been all Rochester, with the Warriors winning the next ten consecutive games before tonight. This season could mark the first time the series has been even since its inception back in 1994.

COACH'S CORNER

Head Coach Jared Ocampo had this to say on takeaways from Rochester's last win going into this game:

"We want to be resilient from possessions that do not go our way. Against Aquinas, we saw how important it is to be able to bounce back from missed shots or turnovers; we have to get back and defend the following possession. Togetherness has been an emphasis all week long in preparation for this game, and if we can focus on our unity for 40 minutes, we will succeed."

SPORTS INFORMATION SPOTLIGHT

Junior guard Imari Martin made history for the Warriors against Aquinas last week, taking the Warriors' all-time steals record with her 134th career steal.

AROUND THE CONFERENCE

Rochester currently ranks sixth in the WHAC, with the three teams at the top being #RV Indiana Tech, Concordia, and Cornerstone - all three teams are currently undefeated.

Hussein Murray - RU Athletic Communications

Featured Image: Hanna Swanson - RU Athletics