Cold Shooting Costs MVNU in 77-65 Loss at No. 24 Grace


	Lady Cougar Basketball Game Recap Cold Shooting Costs MVNU in 77-65 Loss at No. 24 Grace written by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director Game Boxscore WINONA LAKE, Ind. (11-22-2011) - The Mount Vernon Nazarene University women's basketball team shot just 31.3 percent from the field and 16.7 percent from 3-point range as the Lady Cougars suffered their first loss of the season with a 77-65 setback at NAIA Division II No. 24 Grace (Ind.) College in Mid-Central College Conference action on Tuesday night. The first 10 minutes of the game went back and forth with the score knotted at 12-12 as neither team could get more than a four-point lead. Then, the host Lady Lancers (7-2, 1-0 MCC) caught fire and went on a 25-11 run to close the first half with a 37-23 lead. MVNU went just 4-for-15 from the field the rest of the half. Senior post Whitney Levering *(left)* led the Lady Cougars with eight points and five rebounds in the first half. MVNU shot just 28.1 percent from the field (9-for-32), missed all seven 3-point attempts, and canned 83.3 percent of their free throws (5-for-6). Kiera Gray led Grace with 14 first-half points as the Lady Lancers shot 51.7 percent from the field (15-for-29), 66.7 percent from 3-point range (4-for-6), and 42.9 percent from the free throw line (3-for-7). Grace also held a 21-17 rebounding advantage over the first 20 minutes. The Lady Lancers maintained a double-digit lead in the second half and it grew to as much as 63-43 with 4:20 to play. The Lady Cougars tried to rally down the stretch as they closed the game on a 22-14 run, but they ran out of time as Grace prevailed 77-65. Senior guard Sierra Fletcher led MVNU with a game-high 21 points with 19 of them coming in the second half. Senior forward Alexis Harkins added 15 points, and Levering posted a double-double with 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. The Lady Cougars shot just 31.3 percent from the field (20-for-64), 16.7 percent from 3-point range (3-for-18), and 88 percent from the free throw line (22-for-25). Grace was led by Gray and Emily Bidwell with 14 points apiece, while Hayley Cashier added 11 points and six rebounds. The Lady Lancers shot 43.9 percent from the field (25-for-57), 50 percent from 3-point range (4-for-8), and 71.9 percent from the free throw line (23-for-32). "The road was tough today," said MVNU coach Jason Foster. "(Grace) is a very efficient team and they made the most of that tonight. They were strong with the ball and made the right stops at the right time. They played like a ranked team." "We got great play from all tonight, but in the moments that we needed to really finish that is where we lost a little focus," Foster said. "We missed about 12 shots inside three feet. I think that we really learned some hard lessons tonight, and knowing the character of this team it will make us stronger." The Lady Cougars will now have a break for Thanksgiving before returning to action next Wednesday when MVNU will host Taylor (Ind.) University in another MCC contest that will tip off at 7 p.m. in the Physical Education Center.

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