LIVONIA, Mich. - Senior wing Caryn Inman (Oxford, Mich.) led Madonna with 17 points and 11 rebounds but it was Cornerstone that claimed a 62-58 win over the Crusaders. The loss dropped MU to 7-11 on the season and 2-2 in WHAC play. Cornerstone improved to 13-7 overall and 4-0 in loop action. 

The opening half was a back and forth battle with neither side holding a lead of more than four until CU’s Kara Overbeek converted a pair of free throws with 6:17 left in the half to go ahead 21-16. The Crusaders then took the lead back over the next two plus minutes as a Christie Carrico (Waterford, Mich.) lay-up from Inman gave MU a 22-21 lead. Cornerstone closed the half on a 7-0 run to take a six point lead at 28-22 into the locker room.

The second half saw the Golden Eagles build their lead out to 13 with 15:09 left in the game. The Crusaders then cut the lead to just four using a pair of jumpers by Rebecca Rufli (Fenton, Mich.) and an Inman lay-up over a four minute span to make it 40-36.

The series of runs continued as CU built their lead back out to double digits on two separate occasions over the next five minutes, only to see MU cut it back to a single bucket at 56-54 with 2:01 left in the contest on another Inman jumper in the paint.

Jenna Plews made both ends of the bonus free throw attempts to put the Golden Eagles back up four with 1:24 left, but a Carrico jumper made it a two-point game with 34 ticks left. Unable to steal the inbounds pass, the Crusaders were forced to foul and CU made all four of its attempts to seal the 62-58 win.

In addition to Inman’s 17 points, Tabatha Wydryck (Riverview, Mich.) added 13 points and eight boards for the home side. Tami Thelen led CU with 15, while freshman Brooke Carter posted 14 points and 15 rebounds for the Golden Eagles.

The Crusaders look to get back to their winning ways with a 1:00 pm tip-off at Siena Heights on Saturday.