Site: Marion, Ind. (Lucky Arena)
Score: No. 14 Indiana Wesleyan University 72, Madonna University 64
Records: MU 2-2; IWU 5-0
Next MU event: Saturday November 21 vs. No. 8 Bethel College (Marion, Ind.)

BOX SCORE

MARION, Ind. (MadonnaCrusaders.com) - - Freshman center Kaylee McGrath (Livonia, Mich.) turned in her first career double-double with career highs of 24 points and 11 rebounds but even that could not hold off a furious comeback from No. 14-ranked Indiana Wesleyan as the Crusaders fell 72-64 inside Lucky Arena on Friday night (Nov. 20) to open the 2009 WHAC/MCC Challenge.

Sophomore Erin Bentley (Monroe, Mich.) added 12 points, going 4-of-8 from behind the three point line, to go along with nine markers each from senior Kim Olech (Canton, Mich.) and junior Tabatha Wydryck (Wyandotte, Mich.). Elaine Hessel led IWU with 20 points.

The two sides opened the game trading scores with the fourth tie of the contest coming at 16-all with 8:46 left in the opening half. The Crusaders then opened up a 13 point lead with a 14-1 run thanks in part to a pair of Bentley triples and another from Wydryck that put MU up 30-17.

The Wildcats whittled the Crusader lead back down to single digits, coming as close as four with just 19 seconds left in the half but a three from freshman Heather Pratt (Flushing, Mich.) as time expired put MU up 39-33 heading into halftime.

Coming out of the intermission MU opened the half on a 7-2 run to pull back into a double-digit lead at 46-35 with just under 17 minutes left.

A 17-5 IWU run over the next six minutes gave the Wildcats a 52-51 lead that they would not relinquish. Olech pulled MU back to with in two, scoring back-to-back buckets with just over a minute left but IWU converted all four of its chances at the free throw line for the 72-64 win.

MU wraps up play at the WHAC/MCC Challenge on Saturday (Nov. 21) contest against No. 8-ranked Bethel College. Tip-off is set for 1pm inside Lucky Arena.

QUOTES
Madonna Head Coach Carl Graves
On the game … "I was pleased with how hard we played. It felt like a dominant performance in every statistical way but we just did not come out on top. I knew it would be hard after beating IWU last year but I am proud of this program. We are growing in great ways."

Madonna freshman center Kaylee McGrath
On the battle on the glass … We felt like we dominated the boards which was a goal coming into the game. We feel like we should have come out with a win."

NOTES
* MU is now 7-15 all-time against Indiana Wesleyan
* IWU has won two of the last three meetings between the two schools
* McGrath's double-double is the first of her career and sets new career highs in both categories

* McGrath's double-double is the second for MU this season (Olech at Hope 11/17)

Contact: Patrick Moore (734) 432-5834