With the score knotted a 4-4 just two and a half minutes into the game, MVNU (19-7, 6-6 AMC) rattled off 16 straight points to build a 20-4 lead with 10:57 left in the half. Senior guard Rachel Fiely nailed a pair of three-pointers, and sophomore post Amanda Himes added four points.

After the visiting Highlanders (9-13, 3-8 AMC) pulled within 25-16 on a jumper by Kaylyn York with 5:37 remaining before halftime, the Lady Cougars used a 15-4 run to close the half as MVNU took a 40-20 lead to the locker room at the break. Freshman forward Alexis Harkins (left) hit back-to-back three-pointers at one point, while Himes and Fiely added five and four points respectively.

Himes led the Lady Cougars with 13 points and seven rebounds in the first half, while Fiely added 10 points and four assists. Harkins also tallied eight points and four rebounds. MVNU shot 41.7 percent from the field (15-for-36), 45.5 percent from three-point range (5-for-11), and 50.0 percent from the free throw line (5-for-10). The Lady Cougars also posted a 26-17 rebounding advantage and forced 10 first-half turnovers while committing just five miscues.

Ashley Dupler paced Houghton with eight points and five rebounds in the first half. The Highlanders shot just 31.0 percent from the field (9-for-29), missed all 10 of their three-point attempts, and made both free throw attempts.

MVNU nearly duplicated its first half start as the Lady Cougars began the second half on a 13-2 run to extend their lead to 53-22 less than four minutes into the final period. Harkins and Himes both scored four quick points, while Fiely drained another trey. Fiely also reached a milestone at the 17:03 mark when she registered her fifth assist of the game on a jumper by Himes. That assist gave her 166 for the season as she broke the previous school record of 165 set by Mia Dallas during the 1986-1987 season.

After Houghton closed the gap to 55-29 with 13:16 to play, MVNU used another 16-4 run to balloon the lead out to 71-33 with 6:20 left. Harkins led the way with five points, while freshman guard Gabby Fowler nailed a three-pointer and senior wing Bethany Hughes converted a three-point play.

The Lady Cougars would score just two more points the rest of the way - a layup by sophomore forward Kellie Jokela at the 4:26 mark - but MVNU had built a big enough lead that it was able to cruise to the 73-42 victory for the team’s third straight win.

“We got off to a quick start and never really looked back,” said MVNU coach Steve Gregory. “We managed to get up by 20 points at the half and we just wanted to fight off the potential for complacency in the second half. Our defense was pretty solid most of the evening, and our transition game led to a number of layups.”

Himes led the Lady Cougars with 17 points and eight rebounds in just 16 minutes of action, while Harkins added 17 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Fiely (right) finished with 15 points, seven assists, and six steals, and Fowler and senior post Melissa Mastrodonato contributed six points apiece off the bench. MVNU shot 38.9 percent from the field (28-for-72), 34.8 percent from three-point range (8-for-23), and 60.0 percent from the free throw line (9-for-15). The Lady Cougars also held a 46-42 edge in rebounds and forced 25 turnovers while committing just 12 miscues.

“Amanda did a great job of getting good seals down low and our guards did a good job of feeding her the ball and giving her opportunities to score,” said Gregory. “Rachel was outstanding once again - 15 points and seven assists to go along with six steals. She had quite a night and she continues to make our team better. Alexis was also solid all the way around as she knocked down threes, penetrated and scored or dished, and grabbed big rebounds to get our transition game going. Our bench also played well tonight which added in the cause.”

Dupler was the lone Highlander to reach double figures as she posted a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. York and Leah French added eight points apiece with French grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out five assists. Houghton shot 30.5 percent from the field (18-for-59), just 5.9 percent from three-point range (1-for-17), and 71.4 percent from the free throw line (5-for-7).

The Lady Cougars will return to action on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. when MVNU will host Ursuline College in a game with lots of playoff implications for both teams. The Lady Arrows will enter the game with a 14-11 overall record and a 7-5 conference mark. The winner will have the best shot at making the AMC Tournament by virtue of holding the head-to-head advantage.

Five MVNU seniors and one sophomore graduating with an associate’s degree will be honored prior to the game as Fiely, Mastrodonato, Hughes, Jessica Lynn, Ashley Brown, and Kim BeVier play the final regular-season home game of their careers.