After the visiting Lady Bulldogs (3-3) took a 4-1 lead to start the game, MVNU scored the next 11 points to go in front 12-4 with six minutes gone by. Sophomore post Amanda Himes scored six early points and freshman forward Alexis Harkins (left) drained a three-pointer to fuel the surge for the Lady Cougars.

Holding a slim 20-16 advantage at the 8:56 mark, MVNU closed the first half on a 28-5 run to take a commanding 48-21 lead to the locker room at the break. Senior guard Rachel Fiely led the way with six points during the run, while Harkins and senior guard Jessica Lynn contributed five points apiece.

Himes led the Lady Cougars with 13 first-half points and seven rebounds, while Harkins added 10 points and six rebounds. Fiely also contributed eight points and seven assists. MVNU shot 42.5 percent from the field (17-for-40), 30.0 percent from three-point range (3-for-10), and 78.6 percent from the free throw line (11-for-14).

Wilberforce was led in the first half by Candice Crews and Janicia Anderson with five points apiece. The Lady Bulldogs shot just 27.3 percent from the field (9-for-33), 11.1 percent from three-point range (1-for-9), and 50.0 percent from the free throw line (2-for-4).

The second half was all MVNU as the Lady Cougars took their biggest lead of the game on a jumper by sophomore forward Kellie Jokela at the 10:42 mark for a 75-39 advantage.

Despite not scoring a point for the next 6:16 and not making a field goal for a span of 6:37, MVNU was still able to post the 90-58 final score as the Lady Cougars’ lead was too much for Wilberforce to overcome.

“We started the game a little shaky with five of our first six possessions ending in turnovers,” said MVNU coach Steve Gregory. “Fortunately, our defense was pretty solid and was able to keep Wilberforce in check. Midway through the first half, we got our transition game in full gear and created a lot of easy opportunities. Rachel was outstanding at finding and delivering the key pass in full-court situations that led directly to scores.”

Himes (right) finished with a double-double of a game-high 19 points and 15 rebounds to pace the Lady Cougars. Harkins added 15 points and seven rebounds, while Johnson tallied 13 points with a career-high five rebounds. Fiely added eight points and a game-high 10 assists, and Jokela contributed seven points and eight rebounds. Lynn totaled seven points and six rebounds, while freshman guards Gabby Fowler and Ashley Jessie both nailed a pair of three-pointers to finish with six points apiece. MVNU shot 43.8 percent from the field (32-for-73), 38.5 percent from three-point range (10-for-26), and 72.7 percent from the free throw line (16-for-22).

“Amanda was dominant both on the block and on the boards,” said Gregory. “Kellie got a couple of looks around the perimeter, but she is just so good at getting other people open with great screens. She is a tremendous rebounder for her size, and she also took a huge charge in the first half. Alexis just keeps getting better as she gets more experience and gets more comfortable with our systems offensively and defensively. Lauren is so quick to the basket and her creativeness led to many scoring opportunities heading to the basket.”

“Being able to go your bench and have players like Bethany (Hughes), Melissa (Mastrodonato), Jessica, and Gabby is pretty nice,” Gregory added about his bench that scored 28 points in the game. “Add in Ashley, Lindsay (Stein), and Kim (BeVier) and it is a confidence-builder knowing we have people waiting in the wings who know how to make plays.”

Anderson led the Lady Bulldogs with 17 points and seven rebounds off the bench, while DeBorah Wilson added 15 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Wilberforce shot 35.8 percent from the field (24-for-67), 18.8 percent from three-point range (3-for-16), and 46.7 percent from the free throw line (7-for-15).

The Lady Cougars will return to action on Friday at 6:00 p.m. when MVNU will take on Carlow (Pa.) University in the first round of the Ohio Dominican University Classic.