Box Score
Lourdes had three players tally double figures in the scoring column and Emily Orsini (Akron, Ohio/Archbishop Hoban H.S.) tallied her second career double-double but Madonna used a 9-0 run midway through the second half to defeat the Gray Wolves 67-55 on Wednesday evening at the Activities Center in Livonia, Mich.
 
“I thought we did some really good things on defense tonight,” head coach Zareth Gray said after the contest.  “We still need to learn how to play smart and learn how to finish.  We're still building the program though and I fell we're on the upswing.  We played with them quite a bit tonight, just not for a full 40 minutes like we need to be able to do.”
 
Orsini recorded her first double-double since her collegiate debut last season, scoring 11 points while grabbing 10 rebounds.  Tarynn Hampton (Saint Louis, Mo./Alton H.S.) led all Gray Wolf scorers with 18 points while Tiffany Scott (Ottawa Lake, Mich./Sylvania Southview H.S.) matched her season high with 13 points off of the bench.
 
“Emily played great with her first double-double of the year and Tarynn played well,” Gray added.  “Tiffany Scott gave us lots of energy off of the bench.”
 
The Gray Wolves opened the game holding an early 12-10 advantage nine minutes into the contest, taking the lead on a Scott triple.  Lourdes then went six-and-a-half minutes without scoring as the Crusaders scored 13 straight points to take the lead for good.  Madonna still held a 10-point lead with a minute to play before intermission when Ty Ali (Chicago, Ill./Rich South H.S.) and Orsini hit back-to-back triples to pull Lourdes within four, 35-31 at the break.
 
A Tiffani Blackman (Toledo, Ohio/Start H.S.) free throw to open the second half brought the Gray Wolves to within three, but that would be as close as the visitors would get in the second half.  Madonna scored nine straight points to rebuild a double digit lead as part of an 18-4 run, putting the Crusaders on top 53-36 with 12 minutes remaining.
 
Lourdes still trailed by 13 with just over five minutes to play before making one last run.  Seven straight points, three by Ali and four by Hampton, cut the Madonna lead to six, 58-52.  The Crusaders answered with nine straight points of their own though to secure the victory.
 
The Gray Wolves committed 23 turnovers though, leading to 26 Madonna points, while shooting 31.6% from the floor for the game.  Lourdes forced 18 Crusader miscues, which led to just 14 points on the night.
 
“The difference is they capitalized off of our turnovers and we aren't at that level yet,” Gray concluded.
 
Kaylee McGrath led Madonna (13-8, 9-5 WHAC) with 25 points while Rachel Melcher added a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.  Kristie Porada also scored 13 points for the Crusaders.
 
Lourdes (6-16, 3-11) will return home on Saturday afternoon to host Michigan-Dearborn in a game that has key implications for qualifying for the WHAC tournament.  Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. at Tam-o-Shanter.