Blue Devils Strong Defensive Effort Leads to 75-51 win at Madonna

Lawrence Technological University

LIVONIA, Mich. -- The Lawrence Technological (Mich.) University women's basketball team defeated Madonna (Mich.) University 75-51 on Saturday afternoon behind a career day from Hayley Walkowski (SR/Marshall, MI).. The Blue Devils held Madonna to 29.8 percent from the field including 5-for-25 from the field over the final 20 minutes.

Lawrence Tech (6-1, 2-0) was led by Walkowski who finished with a career high 23 points on 9-for-10 shooting from the field and finished 5-for-5 from the line. Nicole Buckingham (JR/Saginaw, Mich.) recorded 19 points and a team high two blocks to go with four assists. Alexis Ayala (SO/Durand, Mich.) finished with a game high nine rebounds.

The Blue Devils held an early 14-11 lead just over five minutes in the first quarter, but the Crusaders responded with a three pointer to tie the game at 14-14 with 4:06 left in the first and took the lead into the second quarter, 23-21.

Lawrence Tech opened the second quarter with an 11-2 run to take a 32-25 lead following a Cherilyn Banas (JR/Oxford, Mich.) jumper with 5:35 on the clock. The Blue Devils continued to build their lead as Kaitlyn Smith (SO/Holly, Mich.)'s layup with 1:17 left in the half put LTU up 40-31 at the break.

Madonna (3-5, 0-2) continued to struggle from the floor as the Blue Devils expanded their halftime lead to 22 points, 60-38, with 3:10 remaining in the third quarter. Lawrence Tech held Madonna to 5-for-25 from the field in the final two quarters as the built a 31 point lead with 2:39 left in the game, 75-44, to seal the win and remain undefeated in conference play.

Lawrence Tech finished the game shooting 45.5 percent from the field as they held the Crusaders to 17-for-57 from the the field. The Blue Devils outrebounded Madonna 51-31 and scored 19 points off 12 Crusader turnovers.

LTU returns home on Tuesday, Nov. 21 when they host Aquinas (Mich.) College in their conference home opener at Don Ridler Field House after going 2-0 on the road to open WHAC play.

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