Himes and Fletcher Lead MVNU Past Lady Racers 85-69


	Lady Cougar Basketball Game Recap Himes and Fletcher Lead MVNU Past Lady Racers 85-69 written by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director Game Boxscore MOUNT VERNON, Ohio (1-23-2010) - The Mount Vernon Nazarene University women’s basketball team used the inside-outside combination of junior post Amanda Himes and sophomore guard Sierra Fletcher to perfection as both players posted double-doubles to lead the Lady Cougars to an 85-69 American Mideast Conference victory over the University of Northwestern Ohio on Saturday night in the Physical Education Center. The game went back and forth over the first nine and a half minutes with seven ties as the score was knotted at 18-18. MVNU (11-5, 4-4 AMC), which received a vote in this week’s NAIA Division II poll, never trailed, but the Lady Cougars were unable to open up more than a three-point lead during that span. That all changed over the final 10 minutes of the half as Fletcher (left) scored 12 points including three free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt at the halftime buzzer as she led MVNU to a 40-28 lead as the teams went to the locker rooms at the half. Fletcher and Himes both scored 14 points apiece in the first half with Himes also grabbing seven rebounds. The Lady Cougars shot 50 percent from the field in the first half (15-for-30), 30 percent from three-point range (3-for-10), and 63.6 percent from the free throw line (7-for-11). MVNU also led 18-16 in rebounds and forced 15 turnovers in the first 20 minutes of action. Amanda Francis paced the Lady Racers (14-5, 7-3 AMC), who received votes in the NAIA Division II poll, with 13 points and eight rebounds in the first half. Molly French added eight points. Northwestern Ohio shot 43.3 percent from the field (13-for-30), 18.2 percent from three-point range (2-for-11), and did not attempt a free throw. MVNU got off to a great start in the second half as a 16-6 run over the first seven minutes saw the Lady Cougars build a 56-34 lead. Junior wing Kelli Pollock nailed a pair of treys and Himes added six points of her own to fuel the surge. With MVNU holding a 68-47 advantage at the 10:03 mark, the Lady Racers used an 18-2 comeback to close the gap to 70-65 with 4:23 left on a three-pointer by Ashley Jackson. Northwestern Ohio hit a trio of treys and also got a three-point play by Jackson as they whittled away at the lead. A jumper by sophomore guard Gabby Fowler and a basket by Fletcher pushed the lead back to 74-65 with 2:52 to play as the Lady Cougars were finally able to stop the Lady Racers’ big run. With MVNU clinging to a 76-69 lead with 1:55 to play, the Lady Cougars proceeded to score the final nine points of the game as Himes (right) made back-to-back baskets, Fletcher hit a pair of free throws, and junior forward Kellie Jokela drained a three-pointer at the shot clock buzzer to close out the 85-69 victory as Northwestern Ohio missed its final three shots. "I am very happy for our kids,” said MVNU coach Steve Gregory. "They really worked hard and prepared for this game. We were a little undermanned tonight, but we have a lot of kids who believe in the team and they showed that grit tonight.” Himes matched her career high with 28 points and grabbed 17 rebounds as she was 14-for-21 from the field. Fletcher posted a double-double of her own with 28 points and a career-high 10 assists to go with six steals and a 9-for-10 showing at the free throw line. Jokela just missed posting the team’s third double-double of the night as she finished with 12 points and nine rebounds, and Pollock contributed nine points and six rebounds. The Lady Cougars shot 49.2 percent from the field (32-for-65), 34.8 percent from three-point range (8-for-23), and 65 percent from the free throw line (13-for-20). MVNU finished with a commanding 45-33 rebounding advantage and forced 23 turnovers. "Amanda and Sierra really had big games tonight, but we’ve come to expect that out of those two,” said Gregory. "Equally important was the effort we got from Kellie (Jokela), Kelli (Pollock), and Gabby. I wouldn’t want to overlook our bench either as their roles were pivotal as we got solid minutes from Courtney (Swart), Melissa (Eickholt), Emily (Steveley), and Jessi (Drayer).” "Amanda came up with many big baskets as well as huge rebounds down the stretch run,” Gregory continued. "Sierra was really special, too, as she not only scored tonight but found open teammates, handled (Northwestern Ohio)’s full-court pressure, and also ripped six steals. She is also an outstanding free throw shooter as she showed tonight.” "It was nice to see Kellie (Jokela) hit a couple of threes and make some big plays,” Gregory added. "She makes all the hustle plays and gets very little recognition, and tonight she put it all together. Kelli (Pollock) also stepped up big tonight and hit some big shots. More importantly, though, was her leadership tonight. She stepped to the forefront tonight from that perspective.” Francis finished with 23 points, 11 rebounds, and four steals for the Lady Racers before fouling out. Jackson added 12 points, while Tara Olberding tossed in 11 points with three treys off the bench. Northwestern Ohio shot 40.6 percent from the field (28-for-69), 23.5 percent from three-point range (8-for-34), and 100 percent at the charity stripe (5-for-5). MVNU will return to action on Tuesday when the Lady Cougars will close out their three-game home stand with a 5:30 p.m. AMC game against Carlow (Pa.) University.

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