DEARBORN, Mich. – The Spring Arbor University women's basketball team opened its 2014-15 campaign at the University of Michigan-Dearborn on Saturday. The Cougars overcame a double-digit first half deficit to take a late lead, but the Wolverines would close out the game on a 9-3 run to hand SAU a 63-58 season-opening loss.
Michigan-Dearborn scored the first seven points of the afternoon, eventually pushing its lead to 20-9 at the 12:59 mark. The Cougars chipped away, though, as junior Jessica Mabry fueled an 8-0 run to narrow the gap to three. With 3:38 remaining in the opening period, a bucket by Rachel Driesenga tied the game at 24-24, and the score would remain that way heading into halftime.
Sophomore Kylie Townsley gave Spring Arbor its first lead of the game early in the second half, but the lead would change hands several times over the next 13 minutes before UMD's Jalissa Williams gave the home team the lead for good with 4:07 remaining on the clock.
The Wolverines led by five, 60-55, with less than a minute to play, until a three-pointer from Aimee Konkel got SAU within two. However, UMD would convert its free throws down the stretch to hold off the Cougars and seal the win.
Townsley led the way for the Cougars with 17 points and six rebounds while sophomore Karly Bender added 11 points and four assists. Konkel finished with eight points, four rebounds and three assists, and senior LeAnn Porter contributed six points, two boards and two assists. Driesenga grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.
Spring Arbor (0-1) returns to action on Wednesday, Nov. 5 when it hosts Rochester College (3-2) at 7 p.m.
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