WOMEN’S BASKETBALL UNABLE TO RALLY IN FOURTH AGAINST MADONNA

LIVONIA, Mich. - It was a tough outing for the Warriors (4-5, 1-2) on Wednesday evening, falling to the Madonna Crusaders (3-3, 1-2) 74-65 at Alliance Catholic Credit Union Arena. After a closely contested first half, a big third quarter for the Crusaders helped put them over the edge and seal its first conference win in over a year.

Center Melanie Moore led the way for Rochester, who put up 13 points and 14 rebounds. Forward Jacey Somers led the team in scoring with 16, while Ashley Loon posted a near double-double with seven points and eight rebounds. Three players scored in double figures for the Crusaders, with Aaliyah McQueen posting a 22-point, 14-rebound line.

THE RUNDOWN

FIRST HALF

• It was not a good offensive start for the Warriors, with the team committing four straight turnovers to begin the game. However, Rochester's defense stepped up in the first quarter, holding the Crusaders to 3-15 shooting behind sound defensive play from Loon and Moore
• The Crusaders jumped out to a small lead, but offensive rebounds helped the Warriors stay in it. Off the bench, sophomore Dakotah Krohn would be found by Loon for a big three with under a minute to go to give the Warriors a first-quarter lead, 15-14
• The second quarter was back-and-forth to start, with Loon and Krohn trading baskets with the Crusaders' Kayiona Willis and Keairra Jennings. Krohn hit a big three to force a 30-second timeout by the Crusaders with the Warriors leading 21-19
• Madonna regained the lead but couldn't build separation due to some timely buckets by the Warriors. Somers and Moore rebounded well to end the half, and Rochester was down 33-32 to end the period

SECOND HALF

• The Crusaders built some early separation by getting into the paint, but Somers hit a jumper to get Rochester back within one. However, a bad turnover sequence helped get Madonna back into a three-possession lead
• After a Crusader timeout with five minutes in the third, adjustments for the Crusaders proved worthwhile when they jumped out to a 10-point lead off a 5-0 run. Imari Martin helped stop the bleeding for the Warriors with a layup and helped give the Warriors a mini-run alongside Ella Burger to bring the game within six
• Turnovers plagued the Warriors at the end of the third, and Rochester found itself down 54-47. To make matters worse, the fourth quarter started with a big three from Madonna's Willis
• Melanie Moore had an impactful stretch, drawing fouls and getting layups inside to cut the deficit to four. Martin would find Somers for a layup to maintain the margin, but layups given up inside helped the Crusaders extend the lead to eight
• The Crusaders jumped back out to a double-digit lead in the final two minutes, and Rochester was unable to get baskets to fall in the end, falling 74-65

STAT OF THE GAME

Melanie Moore's double-double was her second of the season.

POST-GAME PRESSER

Head Coach Jared Ocampo had this to say on the loss:

"Tonight, we struggled in several areas, allowing Madonna to gain momentum. We did not do a good job taking care of the basketball. We allowed too many points off our turnovers, so we must clean that up. We have to capitalize on our opportunities around the rim and be more efficient."

UP NEXT

Rochester will return home to face Lawrence Tech (2-4, 2-2) in a 2022-23 WHAC Tournament opening-round rematch.

Hussein Murray - RU Athletic Communications

Featured Image Courtesy of Madonna Athletics