A basket with 4.2 seconds to play lifted Cornerstone to a 68-66 victory over Lourdes on Saturday afternoon inside the Russell J. Ebeid Recreation Center.
 
"This was a heartbreaking game for our kids," head coach Tandy Bradford said afterwards.  "They put it all out on the floor today and we came up short.  Cornerstone has worked hard to be where they are right now in the league, and we had our shot to take them down.  Our kids are hungry and they will keep battling and keep having fun playing a game that they love playing together."
 
Cornerstone built an early eight-point lead, 18-10, late in the first quarter when Emma Pedroza (Napoleon, Ohio/Napoleon H.S.) drained a shot at the buzzer from beyond midcourt.  The long distance three started a 9-1 Gray Wolf run that pulled Lourdes even with seven minutes to play before halftime.  Lourdes was unable to take the lead before the lead before break though, with the Golden Eagles pushing the advantage back to six before taking a 33-31 edge into the locker room.
 
A 12-3 run by the visitors midway through the third period gave Cornerstone its largest lead of the day, 51-41, with 4:33 left in the stanza.  Lourdes battled back, scoring the final five points of the quarter to pull within 55-50 heading into the final 10 minutes. 
 
A Shae Pedroza (Napoleon, Ohio/Napoleon H.S.) jumper with 3:37 remaining pulled the Gray Wolves even and after Cornerstone made one of two free throws, Halle Barnett (Sylvania, Ohio/Southview H.S.) put Lourdes in front 64-63.  Cornerstone tied the game with a free throw with 51.8 ticks left on the clock before Nadeen Jemaa (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg H.S.) answered with a pair of free throws of her own to give the Gray Wolves a two-point lead. With 49.0 to play.
 
Stephanie Ainsworth tied the game for Cornerstone on the next possession and Lourdes turned the ball over with 8.3 seconds remaining.  Jaxi Long then made a jumper in the lane with 4.2 seconds to play and the Gray Wolves' last second attempt to tie was blocked by Ainsworth as time expired.
 
Emma Pedroza led Lourdes with 19 points while her sister Shae had six more.  Barnet finished with eight while Macie Stringfellow (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg H.S.) grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds.
 
Long led Cornerstone (11-9, 10-3 WHAC) with 14 points while Ainsworth finished with 12 points, 11 boards, and four blocks.
 
"We have all the faith in the team's grind and resilience to be ready to hit the road and compete against Aquinas next week," Bradford concluded.
 
Lourdes (6-15, 3-10) takes to the road on Wednesday evening, traveling to Grand Rapids, Mich. to battle Aquinas.  Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. inside the Sturrus Sports and Fitness Center.