Crusaders slip past Women's Basketball in Livonia

LIVONIA, Mich. - The University of Michigan-Dearborn women's basketball team looked to be in good position for its first Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference win of the season in a matchup with Madonna University Saturday in Livonia, Mich., but the Crusaders took control in the fourth to pull away from the Wolverines.

UM-Dearborn Led 37-36 at the break on the strength of 12 points from sophomore Sade Lemons (SO/Sterling Heights, MI), but three Crusaders finished with 20 or more points to propel Madonna to the 74-65 win. The loss drops UM-Dearborn to 5-14 overall and 0-10 in the WHAC.

Lemons finished with 12 points and six rebounds, while sophomore Jeorgia Jones (SO/Detroit, MI) recorded a team-high 14 points and eight rebounds. Juniors Emily Heinrich (JR/South Lyon, MI) and Kendall Rose (JR/Canton, MI) each came off the bench to add 10 points. Senior Meredith Williams (SR/Novi, Mich.) controlled the ball for UM-Dearborn, recording team highs with six assists and six steals.

The Wolverines shot 23-of-58 from the field, 5-of-10 from deep and 14-of-16 from the line, while outrebounding the Crusaders 39-27.

Becca Sabol led Madonna with 24 points, while Lindsey Hernden and Cris Harper added 22 and 20, respectively.

The Wolverines return home to host Aquinas College at 5:30 pm Wednesday at the UM-Dearborn Fieldhouse.