The game went back and forth over the first five minutes with four ties and two lead changes with the score knotted at 8-8. Then, the host Lady Cavaliers (8-8, 1-2 AMC South) used a 21-10 run to build a 29-18 advantage with 3:32 left in the half.

Three baskets by freshman post Amanda Himes (left) helped the Lady Cougars (13-4, 1-2 AMC South) close the half on a 6-2 run to pull within 31-24 at the break.

Himes led MVNU with 11 points in the first half off the bench as she went 4-for-6 from the field. Junior center Melissa Mastrodonato also added six points. The Lady Cougars shot 30.0 percent from the field (9-for-30), 60.0 percent from the free throw line (6-for-10), and missed all six of their three-point attempts.

Cara Bedard paced Walsh with seven points and eight rebounds in the first half, while Katie Berry tossed in six points. The Lady Cavaliers shot 35.5 percent from the field (11-for-31), 33.3 percent from three-point range (1-for-3), and 80.0 percent at the free throw line (8-for-10). Walsh also posted a commanding 30-16 rebounding advantage.

MVNU started the second half with a 19-10 run to take a 43-41 lead at the 11:27 mark on a jumper by freshman guard Lauren Johnson. Johnson and Mastrodonato both scored five points during the comeback, while Himes and junior guard Rachel Fiely added four points apiece.

The lead would be short-lived, though, as the Lady Cavaliers went on a 26-7 run of their own to take a commanding 67-50 lead with 3:36 left in the game. Leah Seaman took over the game for Walsh and scored 14 points during this span.

From there, the Lady Cougars could get no closer than 12 points the rest of the way as the Lady Cavaliers posted the 75-59 AMC South Division victory.

Himes finished with 19 points, nine rebounds, and four blocked shots off the bench to lead MVNU, while Mastrodonato (right) posted a double-double with 15 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Freshman wing Kelli Pollock also tossed in eight points. The Lady Cougars shot 30.4 percent from the field (21-for-69), 19.0 percent from three-point range (4-for-21), and 68.4 percent from the free throw line (13-for-19).

Seaman paced Walsh with 21 points, while Berry contributed 15 points, six assists, and five reounds. Bedard also finished with 11 points and nine rebounds. The Lady Cavaliers shot 44.8 percent from the field (30-for-67), 33.3 percent from three-point range (3-for-9), and 70.6 percent from the free throw line (12-for-17). Walsh also had a 51-41 rebounding advantage.

MVNU will return to action on Saturday when the Lady Cougars will host 11th-ranked Shawnee State University in another AMC South Division contest that will tip off at 5:30 p.m.