MVNU Survives First Round Scare from Host Team


	Lady Cougar Basketball Game Recap MVNU Survives First Round Scare from Host Team written by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director Game Boxscore WINONA LAKE, Ind. (3-11-2010) - The Mount Vernon Nazarene University women’s basketball team survived a scare from host Grace (Ind.) College as the Lady Cougars used a 12-0 run to turn a two-point deficit into a 10-point lead late in the second half on the way to a hard-fought 59-52 victory in the first round of the National Christian College Athletic Association National Tournament on Thursday evening in the Orthopaedic Capital Center. After a 16-day layoff for both teams, a back-and-forth first half saw No. 1 seed and defending national champion MVNU (20-9) holding a slim 27-23 lead as the first 20 minutes ticked towards an end before junior wing Kelli Pollock (left) beat the half-time buzzer with a three-pointer to extend the Lady Cougars’ advantage to 30-23. Junior center Amanda Himes led the Lady Cougars with nine points and 11 rebounds in the first half, while Pollock and junior guard Lauren Johnson also tossed in six points apiece. MVNU shot 34.5 percent from the field (10-for-29), 27.3 percent from three-point range (27.3 percent), and 70 percent from the free throw line (7-for-10). Meanwhile, Danielle Boykin came off the bench to pace Grace with seven points. The No. 8 seed Lady Lancers (9-22) shot 38.5 percent from the field (10-for-26), 33.3 percent from three-point range (1-for-3), and 50 percent from the free throw line (2-for-4). The game remained close in the second half with the score knotted at 40-40 with just over 10 minutes remaining. Then, Grace took its first lead since 4-2 with 9:02 to go as the Lady Lancers led 44-42. Grace still led 46-44 after a basket by Emily Bidwell with 8:26 left. At that point, back-to-back three-pointers by sophomore guard Sierra Fletcher and Pollock started a 12-0 run by the Lady Cougars that helped MVNU take control of the game. From there, the Lady Cougars were able to hold on and post the 59-52 victory. "We are very pleased to get a win against Grace on their home floor,” said Gregory. "We managed to get a lead and hold onto it for most of the first half and midway through the second half. (Grace) briefly took the lead, but fortunately, we turned it back on again and spaced the game back out to the finish.” "We did not shoot the ball very well, but we played some very good defense,” Gregory added. "Our defense made some big plays for us when we needed them most. Our kids also fought hard on the glass and got stick back opportunities. Those stick back are important when you are not shooting all that well.” Himes finished with 13 points and a game-high 17 rebounds to lead MVNU with her 19th double-double of the season as she also broke her own school record with 563 points on the season. Meanwhile, Fletcher added 13 points and six steals. Pollock tallied 12 points with a trio of three-pointers and seven rebounds, and Johnson tossed in 10 points with four steals. The Lady Cougars shot 33.3 percent from the field (18-for-54), 21.7 percent from three-point range (5-for-23), and 72 percent from the free throw line (18-for-25). "Amanda did an outstanding job on the glass for us,” said Gregory. She pulled down some huge rebounds time and time again. Sierra made several great plays that resulted in either jump balls or steals. She was pesky all night in the full court, harassing Grace's point guard and forcing her to make some miscues. Lauren did a good job of taking the ball to the basket tonight and getting to the free throw line. Kellie drained some big treys for us tonight, while (junior forward) Kellie (Jokela) and (sophomore wing) Alexis (Harkins) also took a couple of huge charges for us.” Boykin led the Lady Lancers with 13 points off the bench, while Eley finished with 10 points. Hayley Cashier grabbed a team-high nine rebounds, but Grace also turned the ball over 28 times. The Lady Lancers finished the game shooting 44.2 percent from the field (23-for-52), 28.6 percent from three-point range (2-for-7), and just 36.4 percent from the free throw line (4-for-11). MVNU will return to action on Friday at 7:00 p.m. in the semifinals against No. 4 seed Bethel (Ind.) College (21-12). Bethel, which cruised past No. 5 seed King (Tenn.) College 72-53 as four players scored in double figures led by Bekah Basinger with 20 points in the first round, received votes in the final NAIA Division II poll. The other side of the bracket featured two upsets as No. 7 Ecclesia (Ark.) College knocked off No. 2 Emmanuel (Ga.) College 41-39 and No. 6 North Greenville (S.C.) College downed No. 3 Bluefield (Va.) College 64-51. Ecclesia and North Greenville will square off at 5:00 p.m. in the other semifinal, while Emmanuel will face Bluefield at 1:00 p.m. in the loser’s bracket and Grace will take on King at 3:00 p.m.

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