Second Half Comeback Falls Short for Crusaders

December 29, 2006
Site: Las Vegas, Nev.
Score: South Dakota Tech 92, Madonna 82
Records: MU (4-10; 0-0 WHAC), South Dakota Tech (10-5)
Next MU Event: Saturday, Dec. 30 -- vs. Campbellsville (KY) -- 8 pm ET (Las Vegas Classic)

		Christie Carrico poured in 25 points during MU's 92-82 loss against South Dakota Tech on Friday.

Box Score

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- After the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology led by 22 points at the half, Christie Carrico (Waterford, Mich./Waterford Mott HS) sparked a Madonna comeback that saw the Crusaders get as close as three points to the Lady Hardrockers before eventually dropping the contest 92-82 in the opening day of the Las Vegas Classic.

Madonna's 13-day layoff from competition proved to be hurtful to the Crusaders in the first half as South Dakota Tech would lead by as much as 24 points behind the strength of a team combined 79-percent shooting from the field, missing only six shots in 28 attempts.

Carrico spearheaded MU's passionate comeback in the second half, scoring 16 of her game high 25 points in the final 20 minutes of play. 

Madonna opened up the second half on an 11-4 run and cut the Lady Hardrocker lead to 11 points with 15:32 left in the game.  The Crusaders received three consecutive buckets from Alyssa Guerin (Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth Salem HS), Stephanie Piotrowski (Petersburg, Mich./Ida HS) and Cali Crawford (Rochester, Mich./Oakland Christian Academy) which saw the deficit fall to just four points with 10:32 left in the contest.

After South Dakota Tech pushed the lead back to 10 points, MU went on a 14-7 run that was capped off by a jumper by Lindsay Klemmer (Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth Canton HS) which pull the Crusaders to within three points.

With under three minutes remaining, the Crusaders were unable to capitalize on the momentum and the Lady Hardrockers were able to stretch the lead out to six points before MU was forced to foul.  South Dakota Tech buried six consecutive foul shots before Crawford added a final basket for the Crusaders in the 10-point defeat.

Klemmer, who saw her first action of the season, scored 18 points and added four steals in the loss.  Piotrowski turned in 16 points and Guerin added 14 for Madonna.

The Crusaders shot 41-percent (29-of-71) from the field and South Dakota Tech finished the game shooting 61-percent (34-of-56) from the floor after a blistering start in the first half.

MU will finish up the Las Vegas Classic on Saturday, Dec. 30 in an 8:00 p.m. (ET) tip off with Campbellsville (KY) before returning home to open up conference play.



 

Contact:
Tony Baldwin, Sports Information Director
(734) 432-5834
tbaldwin@madonna.edu