MVNU Closes out Regular Season and Busy Week with Win


	Lady Cougar Basketball Game Recap MVNU Closes out Regular Season and Busy Week with Win written by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director Game Boxscore MOUNT VERNON, Ohio (2-20-2010) - The Mount Vernon Nazarene University women’s basketball team closed out the regular season and a busy four-game week with a convincing 75-40 victory over Malone University in American Mideast Conference action in the Physical Education Center on Saturday night. The Lady Cougars (19-8, 12-7 AMC) scored the first six points of the game on a pair of layups by sophomore guard Sierra Fletcher (left) and two free throws by junior guard Lauren Johnson. MVNU still held a 13-7 advantage at the 9:52 mark after a jumper by junior center Amanda Himes. The visiting Lady Pioneers (4-26, 1-18 AMC) used a 13-6 run over the next three and a half minutes to take a 20-19 lead at the 6:27 mark on a three-pointer by Ashley Speicher. From there, the Lady Cougars closed the half on a 14-5 run to take a 33-25 lead at the break as Fletcher drained a 40-foot trey at the buzzer as part of eight points that she scored during the spurt. Johnson also nailed a three-pointer in the midst of the run. Fletcher led MVNU with 11 points and six steals in the first half, while Himes added nine points and seven rebounds. The Lady Cougars shot 42.9 percent from the field (12-for-28), 25 percent from three-point range (2-for-8), and 50 percent at the free throw line (7-for-14). MVNU held a 19-15 rebounding advantage and forced 17 turnovers that were turned into 16 points. Malone was led by Speicher with six points. The Lady Pioneers shot 40 percent from the field (10-for-25), 33.3 percent from three-point range (3-for-9), and 66.7 percent from the free throw line (2-for-3). The momentum that the Lady Cougars had built at the end of the half on Fletcher’s long-range bomb carried over into the second half as MVNU went on a 25-5 run over the first 10 and a half minutes to build a commanding 58-27 lead at the 9:34 mark. Johnson led the way with nine points and Fletcher added eight points as the Lady Cougars took control of the game. From that point on, MVNU led by at least 28 points the rest of the way with the final score of 70-45 also marking the team’s biggest lead of the night. "We played a good first half, but we couldn’t get any separation as (Malone) came out, played physical, and put up a great first 20 minutes,” said MVNU coach Steve Gregory. "The second half was a dominant half for us as we went on a huge run the first 10 minutes of the half and never looked back.” Fletcher led the Lady Cougars with a game-high 24 points, four assists, and six steals, while Himes finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds for her 13th straight double-double and her 17th overall this season. She also broke her own single-season school records for rebounds and field goals made that she set last season as she now has 321 rebounds and 215 field goals made this year. In addition, Johnson scored 16 points and registered six steals. MVNU shot 45 percent from the field (27-for-60), 23.5 percent from three-point range (4-for-17), and 60.7 percent from the free throw line while forcing a season-high 33 turnovers. "Sierra and Lauren were the catalysts for us tonight defensively as they each recorded six steals and got easy run-outs in transition,” said Gregory. "Amanda was big on the glass where she did the majority of her damage on stick-backs. Our bench contributed in many different ways and that was a nice boost for us tonight.” "(Junior forward) Kellie (Jokela) had another great night, too,” Gregory added. "She plays so hard and does such an awesome job defensively communicating and leading. I’m very thankful for all that she has brought to our program.” Speicher finished with eight points to lead Malone, while Amy Kittle had six points and seven rebounds. Allyson Wilson also grabbed seven rebounds. The Lady Pioneers shot 32.7 percent from the field (16-for-49), 16.7 percent from three-point range (3-for-18), and 83.3 percent at the free throw line (5-for-6). With the victory, the Lady Cougars have secured the No. 5 seed in the upcoming seven-team AMC Tournament that will get under way on Tuesday. MVNU will travel to No. 4 seed Daemen (N.Y.) College. The Lady Wildcats posted a 85-79 victory during the regular season when the two teams met at Daemen. The game will tip off at 5:30 p.m. and can be heard live on http://wnzr.fm/sports.html. The winner of the AMC Tournament will receive a berth in the NAIA Division II National Tournament. Tuesday’s winner in the game between Daemen and MVNU will advance to face top-seeded and regular-season AMC champion Cedarville University on Saturday at Cedarville.

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