Women's Basketball's Furious Rally Falls Just Short at Siena Heights

(Adrian, MI)-- The Cleary Cougar women's basketball team held the Siena Heights Saints to the second lowest point total in Cougar history, but it wasn't enough as the Cougars dropped their game 46-43.

Cleary started off the game with a three from Rylee Thomas, and added a Taedom Stein layup to take an early 5-0 lead.  After a Saints three pointer, Samantha Hoelscher made a layup to give Cleary a 7-3 advantage.  SHU would turn up their defensive instensity, and took a 10-8 lead by the two minute mark of the quarter.  Samantha Hoelscher would make a layup to tie the game, but the two teams would remain tied for the rest of the first ten minutes. 

Siena Heights would start to knock down some shots, while totally taking Cleary's offense out of the game.  Cleary's defense would rise to the occasion to keep the Cougars close heading into halftime, but the Cougars would still trail 22-13 at the break.

The third quarter was more of the same for the Cougars, as Siena Heights continued to stifle Cleary's offense, and slowly pulled away.  By the third quarter media timeout, the deficit was eighteen points, and by the end of the quarter, Cleary found themselves down twenty points, with the score 40-20 in favor of the hosts.  

Cleary would come out and give their all in the final ten minutes.  After SHU made 1/2 free throws to extend their lead to twenty-one, Taedom Stein made back to back baskets.  Izzy Dugal would get fouled and convert both of the ensuing free throws, and then made a layup, all within the first two minutes of fourth quarter play.  After another defensive stop, Rylee Thomas knocked down a three to cut the deficit to ten points.  After the media timeout, Siena Heights would make a three, regaining their thirteen point lead, but the Cougars would continue their run.  Mileisha Rodriguez would make 1/2 free throws, and Amy Jackson hit back to back threes to cut the Saints' lead to five points, with just under two minutes to play.  A Taedom Stein layup would cut the deficit to three, and another Stein layup made it a one point game with 46 seconds to go.  Cleary would get a stop on SHU's next possession, but Rylee Thomas' go-ahead three point attempt was blocked, and Cleary was forced to foul.  SHU would make both free throws, to make the score 46-43.  Cleary used their final timeout to advance the ball, and Taedom Stein's shot would be off the mark, as Cleary's comeback came up short.

Cleary outscored Siena Heights in the fourth quarter 23-6.

Taedom Stein had a game high 15 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals.  Amy Jackson added 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals.  Mileisha Rodriguez was was cruical on defense, with 10 rebounds and 3 blocks.

The 46 points allowed by Cleary was their second lowest point total allowed in program history, second to only the 44 points allowed to Defiance on January 11.  

The loss gives Cleary a 7-12 record, and they are now 6-6 in the WHAC.  The Cougars will remain on the road on Saturday, January 25, when they travel to Lima, Ohio to take on the Northwestern Ohio Racers.  The game is set to begin at 1:00 PM.