Strong Start Not Enough as Blue Devils Fall to Cleary at Home

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — A dominant third quarter and a sizable rebounding edge tilted a tight WHAC matchup away from Lawrence Technological University on Saturday, as Cleary University pulled away for a 71-55 win at Don Ridler Fieldhouse.

The Blue Devils led by as many as eight in the first quarter and carried a 37-35 advantage into halftime, but Cleary used a 22-13 third-quarter surge to seize control. The visitors backed that run with a 46-25 edge on the glass, including 21 offensive rebounds that repeatedly extended possessions and slowly wore down Lawrence Tech’s defense.

Lawrence Tech opened the night with energy on both ends. Forward Kate Jacobs set the defensive tone early, blocking a shot in the lane less than a minute into the game to deny Cleary an early bucket. On the perimeter, the Blue Devils found rhythm from beyond the arc, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Caitlyn Rayl that tied the game at 5-5. Late in the period, guard LaChelle Moreland-Jones buried a 3-pointer just before the buzzer to cap a 24-point first quarter and send the Blue Devils into the break with an eight-point lead at 24-16.

Cleary gradually chipped away in the second quarter behind its transition game and second-chance scoring. A fast-break layup from Samantha Hoelscher cut the margin to 26-20 and helped spark the visitors’ push. Three-pointers from Jess Andrew and Makenna Jarratt trimmed the Blue Devils’ lead to one possession, with Jarratt’s make bringing Cleary within 34-33. Still, Lawrence Tech managed to hold the lead at the half behind timely shooting and solid ball movement, finishing the night with 13 assists on 16 made field goals.

The decisive stretch came after halftime. Cleary grabbed its first lead of the half at 47-44 on an Andrew 3-pointer with 5:08 left in the third, a shot that flipped the momentum for good. Moments later, Andrew converted a layup and free throw to push the lead to 55-45 as Cleary closed the frame with a 57-50 advantage. Lawrence Tech was limited to 13 points in the third and just five in the fourth, as Cleary’s pressure on the boards and in the passing lanes disrupted offensive rhythm.

In the fourth quarter, the Blue Devils continued to battle but struggled to generate clean looks. A layup by Karissa Cochran and a putback from Izzy Dugal helped Cleary stretch the margin to 64-52, forcing a Lawrence Tech timeout with six minutes remaining. Jarratt’s 3-pointer made it a double-digit game at 67-52, and two free throws by Dugal with 1:10 left created the final 71-55 margin.

Guard Liv Linden led Lawrence Tech with 17 points, going 5-for-11 from the field and 5-for-6 at the free-throw line while adding three assists. Jacobs delivered a strong two-way performance with eight points, six rebounds, a game-high seven blocks and four assists, anchoring the Blue Devils’ interior defense. As a team, Lawrence Tech shot 28.6 percent from the field and 23.3 percent from 3-point range, but stayed competitive at the stripe at 16-for-21 (76.2 percent).

Cleary’s offense ran through Hoelscher, who posted a 17-point, 21-rebound double-double with nine assists and four steals in 40 minutes. Andrew also scored 17 points, while Dugal added 16, helping the visitors overcome 36.6 percent shooting by dominating the glass and converting extra chances.

Lawrence Tech will look to build on its defensive highlights and first-half execution as it returns to WHAC play later this month. The Blue Devils’ early energy, rim protection and perimeter ball movement provided a foundation the team will aim to carry into its upcoming conference stretch.