LIVONIA, Mich. - The Lawrence Technological (Mich.) University women's basketball team fell at Madonna (Mich.) University 83-78 on Saturday afternoon in Livonia, Mich.

Lawrence Tech (12-7, 8-4) opened the game with a 21-15 lead after trailing Madonna 11-6 at the 5:25 mark of the quarter. However, the Crusaders were able to take the second quarter with a 31-19 run to give Madonna a 44-40 lead at halftime.

Madonna (10-7, 6-6) came out of halftime and hit a three pointer to put the Crusaders up 47-40 to open the third quarter. The Blue Devils battled back to tie the game at 68-68 heading into the final quarter. LTU used a 15-8 run to close final 3:28 of the third.

The fourth quarter was back-and-forth as the Crusaders built a seven point lead, but the Blue Devils cut it to three, 81-78, with just 1:16 left in the game. LTU had a look at three to tie the game with eight seconds left, but clanked of the back of the rim and Cherilyn Banas (SO/Oxford, Mich.) grabbed the offensive board. However, the ball didn't go the Blue Devils way as they fell 83-78 to the Crusaders.

Nicole Buckingham (SO/Saginaw, Mich.) led the way for LTU with 21 points and nine rebounds while Allison Kitchen (SR/Clio, MI) added 18 points and three assists. Kaitlyn Smith (FR/Holly, Mich.) finished the game with 12 points on 4-for-11 shooting from the three-point line.

Michele Hayes led all scorers with 24 points while Becca Sabol and Kacy Robinson added 18 and 17 points respectively. Sabol added nine rebounds in the win.

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