Site: Adrian, Mich. (SHU Fieldhouse)
Score: Siena Heights University 66, Madonna University 61
Records: MU 4-9 (0-1 WHAC); SHU 12-5 (1-0 WHAC)
Next MU event: Saturday, January 9 at Aquinas (Grand Rapids, Mich.)

BOX SCORE

ADRIAN, Mich. (MadonnaCrusaders.com) - - A season-high 16 points from senior Kim Olech (Canton, Mich.) could not stem a late run from Siena Heights University as the Madonna University women's basketball team dropped its Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference opener 66-61 on Wednesday night (Jan. 6) inside the SHU Fieldhouse.

Junior Tabatha Wydryck (Wyandotte, Mich.) joined Olech in double-figures with 15 points and 10 rebounds while sophomore Heather Goodwin (Temperance, Mich.) added a double-double of her own, dropping in 12 markers and grabbing a career-high 11 caroms for Madonna. Shalaha Hubbard led three Saints in double-figures with 15 points while Erin Cassidy added 10 points and 13 rebounds.

The Crusaders jumped out to an early 10-1 lead on the Saints, keyed by a three from freshman Kaylee McGragh (Livonia, Mich.) over the first four minutes of the game. MU maintained its lead, pushing it out to as much as 12 on an Erin Bentley (Monroe, Mich.) three with 1:47 left in the half before SHU was able to trim the MU lead to seven heading into the locker rooms thanks to a 7-2 run to close the half.

Coming out of the break Madonna maintained the lead and saw it grow back to double-digits (49-39) on another Bentley score with 12:35 showing on the clock.

Siena Heights then went on a 16-6 run over the next seven minutes to go on top 55-54 with 5:42 left. The two sides traded the lead over the next two minutes until a Tanci Levit three gave SHU the lead at 60-59, a lead the Saints would not relinquish in the 66-61 win.

The Crusaders will look to get back to .500 in WHAC play on Saturday, traveling to Grand Rapids to battle with Aquinas College in a 1pm tip-off.

POST GAME QUOTES
Head Coach Carl Graves
"We fought foul trouble the whole game and still put up a great fight. Despite the record at this point in the season this remains one of the best teams I've had the chance to coach at Madonna. We are very young with one senior and just two juniors. We'll grow this week and be ready to work hard in practice tomorrow to prepare for Aquinas."

Contact: Patrick Moore (734) 432-5834