The Lady Crusaders travelled to Charlotte, North Carolina this past weekend to participate in a Tip-Off Tournament hosted by Johnson and Wales University. The weekend was made up of 8 teams in all, 4 men and 4 women from Warren Wilson College in Asheville, NC, Penn State Fayette, Johnson and Wales and Christendom. The first game featured Christendom matched up against the host Johnson and Wales Wildcats. After a long 6 hour trip thanks to Friday traffic in Charlotte the Lady Crusaders took to the court for a 6:30pm tip against the Wildcats. Johnson and Wales is also a USCAA member with an enrollment of 2,200 students. Known for their culinary studies the Wildcats also have a very strong athletic program. The Wildcats boasted a starting lineup of 6?3?, 6?1? and 5?11 compared to the Lady Crusaders who have one player over 5?10?. The Lady Crusaders came out the gates with great energy and kept the game close for the first quarter despite the size and speed advantage definitely being on the side of the home wildcats. Bryn Burgess and Gemma McMahon kept the Lady Crusaders close for a while but as time wore on in the 2nd half the speed and size of the wildcats was too much for the Lady Crusaders too overcome not to mention the long road trip. The Lady Crusaders never gave up and fought until the end which has become a staple of Christendom sports? teams, there is no quit. ?After the game I told them there is no shame in this game. Success is not judged on the scoreboard but in the manner and effort with which we play as a team and for that we can be proud since we didn?t back down and never quit until the final buzzer sounded? noted Coach Vander Woude. Bryn Burgess led Christendom with 12 points while Liz Ford grabbed a game high 9 rebounds.

The 2nd day of the tip-off tournament saw the Lady Crusaders matched up against another North Carolina opponent in the owls of Warren Wilson College from Asheville, NC at 12noon. Despite a noon start the game felt like a morning game after the long day the women had the day before. The owls of Warren Wilson came out of the gates quick and grabbed an early lead in the 1st quarter, but the Lady Crusaders gradually clawed back in to the game through the remainder of the 1st half. The owls were able to score a few baskets in transition early before the strong half-court defense of the Lady Crusaders got set. Fueled by a couple of layups from freshman Ann Pennefather and the smart passing of Gemma McMahon the Lady Crusaders cut the owls lead to just 8 going into halftime. The 2nd half saw the owls step up the defensive pressure. Playing a 2nd game within 18 hours also started to weigh on the Lady Crusaders as fatigue set in during the 2nd half. Liz Ford hit a couple of 3 point shots to halt the furious owl attack and Bryn Burgess finished some tough layups. But as the 2nd half drew along the Lady Crusaders were never able to cut the lead to under 10. Freshmen Kate Wilson and Georgie Messing playing strong minutes in just their 5 game of their Christendom career. Behind a deep bench of Warren Wilson the owls gradually wore down the Lady Crusaders despite a tough and unwavering effort from the women. The final score read 46-71 Warren Wilson. The Lady Crusaders are back in action today as they travel to NCAA opponent Trinity University in Washington, DC before their home opener this Thursday against Central Penn College at 7pm.