Balanced Attack Leads Lady Cougars to 93-65 Win in Opener


	Lady Cougar Basketball Game Recap Balanced Attack Leads Lady Cougars to 93-65 Win in Opener written by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director Game Boxscore MOUNT VERNON, Ohio (11-5-2011) - The Mount Vernon Nazarene University women's basketball team used a balanced attack that saw nine different players each hit at least one 3-pointer as the Lady Cougars cruised to a 93-65 season-opening victory over Alice Lloyd (Ky.) College on Saturday afternoon in the Physical Education Center. MVNU (1-0) got off to a great start as the Lady Cougars rattled off the first eight points of the game and built a 36-15 lead by the 6:39 mark of the first half. Senior guard Sierra Fletcher *(left)* led the way with 10 early points, while MVNU went 7-for-10 from 3-point range with six different players hitting at least one. A quick 7-0 run by the visiting Lady Eagles (0-2) pulled them within 36-22 followed a trey by Bailey Gabbard, but the Lady Cougars closed the half on a 19-10 run to push the lead back to 55-32 at the break. Junior forward Emily Steveley led the surge with eight points. Fletcher led MVNU with 16 first-half points, while Steveley and senior forward Alexis Harkins each had eight points. The Lady Cougars shot a blistering 59.4 percent from the field (19-for-32), 71.4 percent from 3-point range (10-for-14), and 87.5 percent from the free throw stripe (7-for-8). They also had a 23-4 advantage in points off turnovers as they forced 12 in the first half. Gemma Gray led Alice Lloyd with nine first half points and the Lady Eagles shot 39.3 percent from the field (11-for-28), 12.5 percent from 3-point range (1-for-8), and 64.3 percent from the free throw line (9-for-14). A 12-4 run to start the second half pulled Alice Lloyd within 59-44 with a little over four minutes gone by, but that would prove to be as close as the Lady Eagles would get the rest of the way as MVNU closed the game on a 34-21 run to post the 93-65 victory with the final score also representing the biggest margin in the game. Fletcher led all scorers with 20 points for the Lady Cougars, while Harkins added 15 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Senior post Whitney Levering also reached double figures with 11 points, and Steveley finished with eight points and 10 rebounds. Freshman wing Ainsleigh Krause also contributed nine points and six rebounds off the bench, while junior guard Melissa Eickholt and freshman guard Courtney Christie tacked on seven points each. MVNU shot 46.8 percent from the field (29-for-62), 52.2 percent from 3-point range (12-for-23), and 79.3 percent from the free throw line (23-for-29). Alice Lloyd was led by Ariel Nickell with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Gray and Taylor Hott each finished with 11 points apiece. The Lady Eagles shot 40.7 percent from the field (24-for-59), 16.7 percent from 3-point range (3-for-18), and 60.9 percent from the free throw line (14-for-23). "I was very pleased with the effort and hard work that the ladies showed from the start of the game to the finish," said MVNU coach Jason Foster, who earned his first win with the Lady Cougars in his very first game. "The defensive intensity and the play helped to really disrupt the Alice Lloyd offense. I think that the depth of this team will be something that will help us during the grind of a long season. It was nice to see each player make such a big contribution in this game. The versatility really showed today as well. As we get more comfortable and confident in the new offensive style and with each other, it will only make us that much more dangerous." The Lady Cougars will return to action on Tuesday when MVNU will host Point Park (Pa.) University in another non-conference game at 7 p.m.

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