SPRING ARBOR, MI - It wasn't the finish to their career that Seniors Melissa Tejkl and Kate Bement were hoping for as Spring Arbor University lost its last regular season game at home against Huntington University 64-61. The loss was the 13th in a row for the Cougars as they will finish the regular season with an 8-22 record and 2-14 in the MCC.
Spring Arbor still has a chance to make the post season if Goshen College loses to Taylor University this Saturday. If Goshen wins, they will claim the 8th and final spot in the MCC Tournament, if they lose, then the Cougars will tie with Goshen but Spring Arbor holds the tiebreaker and will claim the last spot.
Spring Arbor showed a lot of improvement in the areas that have plagued them for most of the 13 game skid. The Cougars shot the ball well hitting 20 of 45 shots for 44.4% including 6 of 19 from beyond the arc. Comparatively, Huntington (17-10, 9-6) only hit 19 of 60 from the field (31.7%) Spring Arbor also out-rebounded Huntington 36-34.
The other element that the Cougars have struggled with is turnovers and that is what did them in tonight. The Cougars turned the ball over 28 times and that made all the difference in the ball game.
The Cougars had four players score in double digits tonight led by Freshman Heather Carlson who hit 6 of 8 shots for 15 points. Senior Melissa Tejkl scored 14 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, Sophomore Alex Glenn added 12 points and 7 rebounds, while Megan Bement chipped in 11 points and 6 rebounds.
Spring Arbor led Huntington 31-29 at the half and increased the lead to 8 points (41-33) with 13:13 left in the game. SAU held the lead until the Forester's Pazia Speed hit a 3-pointer with 6:51 to go. Tejkl ?s 2-pointer for the Cougars took back the lead with 3:11 to go, but 16 seconds later a pair of Forester free throws reversed the lead and the Cougars would never get it back as time ran out as Heather Carlson took a last second attempt from just inside the half court line.
So the Lady Cougars will have to wait until Saturday's Taylor vs. Goshen outcome to see if they will get the opportunity get into the post-season tournament.
