Site: Grand Rapids, Mich. (DeVoss Fieldhouse)
Score: Hope 82, Madonna University 70
Records: MU 2-1; HC 1-0
Next MU event: Friday November 20 at Indiana Wesleyan (Marion, Ind.)

BOX SCORE

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (MadonnaCrusaders.com) - - In a game marred by turnovers, not even 43 second half points could overcome a cold start for the Madonna University women's basketball team as the Crusaders dropped their first game of the season 82-70 to Hope College on Tuesday night (Nov. 17) inside the DeVoss Fieldhouse.

Junior Tabatha Wydryck (Wyandotte, Mich.) led MU with 21 points while the Crusaders picked up a double-double effort from senior Kim Olech (Canton, Mich.) with her 12 points and 11 rebounds. Joining the duo in double-figures was freshman Shantelle Herring (Macomb, Mich.) who dropped in 11 points to go along with seven rebounds and a like number of steals. Carrie Snikkers led Hope with 17 points.

The tone for the evening was set early as the first recorded stat of the night was one of the 68 turnovers the two sides combined for. Hope raced out to an early lead and the closest MU got was down three at 5-2 after a Wydryck lay up just 1:48 into the contest.

The Dutch then extended their lead to as much as 23 in the opening half before taking a 50-27 lead into the locker room.

Hope extended its lead to 30 points on three separate occasions in the second half before Madonna started a comeback. The Crusaders cut the lead to 17 on a free throw from sophomore Heather Goodwin (Temperance, Mich.) with 4:32 to go. That point was part of a 7-1 Madonna run that closed the gap to 11 points with 1:45 left.

The Crusaders were then forced to foul and the Dutch converted their free throws for the 12 point win at 82-70.

Madonna returns to the court on Friday, taking part in the WHAC/MCC Challenge at Indiana Wesleyan. The Crusaders take on the host Wildcats at 6pm.

NOTES
* MU's loss is its first of the season after opening up with wins over Rochester and Moody Bible.
* The game vs. Hope is the first of three that MU will play against in-state NCAA Division III schools.
* Olech's double-double is her first of the season
* Wydryck's 21 points is a season high and her most since she poured in 17 markers against Siena Heights on Jan. 14, 2009.

Contact: Patrick Moore (734) 432-5834