For Head Coach Tara Kreklau and the Lady Cougars of Spring Arbor, there weren't a lot of positive vibes heading into tonight's game with Taylor University. The Trojan's were near the top of the conference in the standings. Taylor had won the last 3 games over Spring Arbor. The Cougars were on a 3 game losing streak, had just lost April Adams to a season ending knee injury, and another player had to sit out the game for an undisclosed reason. Did any of that deter Spring Arbor in playing one if their best games of the season? Not in the least!
Spring Arbor (8-9, 2-2) started the game on fire and jumped out to an early 17-4 lead over Taylor (11-7, 2-2) before the Trojans scored 6 unanswered points to cut the lead to 7 points. Both teams traded jabs over the next several minutes before Audra Norris hit a 3 pointer with 38 seconds to go in the first half to lift Spring Arbor to a 9 point 30-21 halftime lead.
"I am really very proud of my kids," commented an elated Kreklau. "We came right out getting after them tonight. We outplayed them, and denied the inside points all night long. The kids hustled after it for 40 minutes and gave me their best effort. And for that, I am proud of them."
The Lady Cougars kept the intensity up right after the half and built an 18 point lead (46-28) with 11:17 to go in the game. But as all good teams do, and Taylor is a good, well coached team, they started to come back. Taylor answered with a 12-0 run and cut the lead to 6 (46-40) with 6:54 to go in the game and at this point, the momentum had shifted a little Taylor's way.
But this is where Melissa Tejkl and Megan Bement took over. Tejkl hit a bucket in the paint and on Taylor's next possession, Bement stole a pass and ran the court for a layup with 6:02 left and then repeated the performance for those who missed it with 5:41 left to help the Cougars breath a little easier down the stretch.
Taylor would never get any closer as time wound down and the Lady Cougars picked up a huge conference win, 60-45 to level their mark at 2-2 in the MCC.
The Ladies will hit the road on Thursday and head to Indiana Wesleyan in Marion, IN. Game time is 7:00
