With the score tied at 8-8 after the first six minutes, the host Golden Tornadoes (20-6) used a 22-10 run to take a 30-18 advantage with 4:07 left before the half. Renee Rawding led the way with six points, while Christine Carugati added five points.

However, the visiting Lady Cougars (18-11), who are seeded third, used a 13-3 run to close the half as MVNU pulled within 33-31 as the teams went to the locker rooms at the break. Junior guard Ashley Brown (left) nailed a pair of three-pointers, while junior guard Rachel Fiely added five points.

Fiely and freshman post Amanda Himes both scored 10 points each in the first half, while Brown added eight points and seven rebounds. The Lady Cougars shot 35.3 percent from the field (12-for-34), 30.0 percent from three-point range (3-for-10), and made all four of their free throw attempts. MVNU also out-rebounded Geneva 23-13 including 9-0 on the offensive end.

Rawding paced the Golden Tornadoes with nine points, while Allyson Clarke added eight points. Geneva shot 46.2 percent from the field (12-for-26), 50.0 percent from three-point range (4-for-8), and 83.3 percent from the free throw line (5-for-6).

A three-pointer by Fiely at the 15:59 mark of the second half gave the Lady Cougars their first lead of the second half at 40-37. The Golden Tornadoes answered with four quick points to regain the lead 41-40 and then the two teams traded baskets with the score knotted at 43-43 with 11:15 to play.

Himes scored five points to fuel an 8-2 run that saw MVNU move in front 51-45, but Geneva rattled off six straight points to tie things up again at 51-51 at the 7:59 mark.

The Lady Cougars responded by going on a 14-1 run to take their biggest lead of the game at 65-52 with 5:16 remaining. Brown and Fiely (right) both tossed in five points to lead the way, and the Golden Tornadoes went 2:59 without making a field goal.

Despite missing seven of its final eight shots from the field, MVNU was able to hold on and post the 67-57 victory as Geneva did not make a field goal in the final 4:35 while also committing two turnovers.

“I was very pleased with our effort and intensity,” said MVNU head coach Steve Gregory. “This is a huge win on the road for us. I really think that we are playing our best basketball at the right time of the season. I am very proud of this group as they keep fighting for a chance at an NCCAA regional championship and a bid to the NCCAA National Tournament.”

“Rachel played outstanding,” Gregory added. “She was all over the floor making plays tonight. Ashley stepped up and had a huge game for us as well with a double-double. She extended possessions for us on offense by grabbing timely offensive rebounds. Amanda came into this game under the weather, but she still had a great game on both ends of the floor.”

Fiely finished with 18 points to pace the Lady Cougars, while Himes added 17 points and seven rebounds. Brown tossed in a career-high 15 points to go with a game-high 10 rebounds and four assists. MVNU shot 41.9 percent from the field (26-for-62), 40.0 percent from three-point range (6-for-15), and 69.2 percent from the free throw line (9-for-13). The Lady Cougars also finished with a 40-32 rebounding advantage that included a 15-7 edge on the offensive end.

Clarke led Geneva with a game-high 22 points and eight rebounds, while Rawding added 12 points. The Golden Tornadoes shot 38.3 percent from the field (18-for-47), 33.3 percent from three-point range (4-for-12), and 73.9 percent from the free throw line (17-for-23).

MVNU will now wait to see what happens to Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.) College, who is currently preparing for a semifinal game in the American Mideast Conference Tournament on Saturday. If Roberts Wesleyan fails to win the AMC Tournament, then the Lady Cougars will travel to Roberts Wesleyan at some point for the NCCAA East Region Tournament championship game. Details will be updated on the MVNU website as they become available.