LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS | COACHES VS CANCER 3PT CHALLENGE
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. - The Lawrence Technological (Mich.) University women's basketball team hosts Cornerstone (Mich.) University in the Coaches vs. Cancer Pink Out game on Saturday, February 4 in the Don Ridler Field House. Opening tip is set for 1 p.m. Today's game also kicks-off the Coaches vs. Cancer 3-PT Challenge between the LTU men's and women's basketball programs: Pledge, watch the Blue Devils hit three pointers. and help raise money for cancer research.
Lawrence Tech (14-10, 10-7) enters the Pink Out on a two game winning streak with wins over Siena Heights (Mich.) University 75-65 (OT) on Saturday, January 28 and a 62-50 win at University of Michigan - Dearborn on Wednesday, February 1.
The Blue Devils defeated Cornerstone 73-61 in Grand Rapids, Mich., on December 17, 2016 behind a trio of players with 18 points. Christina Henry (SR/Lansing, Mich.), Nicole Buckingham (SO/Saginaw, Mich.), and Hayley Walkowski (JR/Marshall, MI) all collected 18 point with Allison Kitchen (SR/Clio, MI) grabbing a game high eight rebounds. Jesse Sheridan led the way for the Golden Eagles with 24 points and two assists while Lizzy Otten recorded a team high six rebounds.
Buckingham continues to lead the Blue Devils with 16.8 points per game with Kitchen averaging a team high 6.5 rebounds per game and 1.9 steals per game. Cherilyn Banas (SO/Oxford, Mich.) is tops on LTU with 3.3 assists per game while Maegan Branham (SR/Michigan Center, MI) is one of three players with a team high seven blocks.
The Blue Devils Kaitlyn Smith (FR/Holly, Mich.) ranks 29th in NAIA DII three-point field goal percentage (.407) while Walkowski ranks 30th in assist/turnover ratio (2.0). Buckingham ranks 31st in total scoring (403), 33rd in points per game, and 46th in free throw percentage (.795).
LTU ranks 16th in NAIA DII turnover margin (5.13), 21st in scoring defense per game (60.0), 22nd in assist/turnover ratio (0.997), and 23rd in total rebound defense (34.5).
Lawrence Tech is 2-7 all-time against Cornerstone, but hold a 2-1 record over their last three meetings. LTU is outscoring the Golden Eagles 68.8 to 65.3 with Cornerstone having the edge on the boards 40.2-36.3. The Blue Devils average just under four steals more per game while forcing two more turnovers per game compared to Cornerstone.
Cornerstone (12-13, 8-8) come to Southfield with a 1-3 record in their last four games including an 80-50 win over Lourdes (Ohio) University last time out. Sheridan leads Cornerstone with 17.9 points per game and 1.8 steals per game while Otten leads the Golden Eagles with 3.3 assists per game. Cass Vredevoogd leads the team in rebounds per game (5.6) and blocks per game (0.83).
Sheridan ranks 12th in NAIA DII total scoring (447), 16th in points per game, and 31st in free throw percentage (0.816). Cornerstone ranks 32nd in total rebound offense (1,005), 37th in assist/turnover ratio (0.850), and 39th in total assists (339).
Today's game is the kick off for Coaches vs. Cancer 3-PT Challenge. Pledge $1-$4 dollars per three-point basket made to help the women's team defeat the Lawrence Tech men's team in the challenge all while raising money for cancer research. Please visit here to donate to the challenge and help defeat cancer. The challenge last the entire month of February.
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