SPRING ARBOR, MI – Jessica Garrison saved her best for last today and led her Spring Arbor University Cougars to a 93-87 overtime win over Mount Vernon Nazarene University. This was Garrison's last home game as a Cougar and the senior poured in a career high 30 points hitting 9-17 from the floor, including 6-13 from 3-point range as well a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line.
The game between the two schools with Cougars as their mascots was a battle for the eighth and final spot in the Crossroads League post season tournament and the right to face the NAIA's #1 team, St. Francis next week in round one of the playoffs.
With the halftime score of 46-40 and the edge to Spring Arbor, it was one of the highest scoring games of the year for both teams and neither held a larger advantage than Spring Arbor's six points that they owned right at the end of the half. MVNU's largest lead was five points with 7:59 left. SAU finished the half on a 23-12 run.
The halftime box score already had three SAU Cougars in double digits led by Garrison's 15 points followed by Kylie Townsley's 14 points and Lindsey Burnside, who tallied 10 points by the break.
The second half was truly a back and forth affair with seven ties and six lead changes, three by each team. Spring Arbor's biggest lead was just five points and only two points for Mount Vernon.
Mount Vernon tied the game for the last time in regular time at 78-78 with 1:04 to go and the last minute of action gave both, SAU Coach, Ryan Frost and MVNU Coach, Matt Moore cause for cardiac arrest.
With 53 seconds to go, Spring Arbor's Carlie Newman missed a mid-range jumper and Rachel Driesenga grabbed the offensive board but missed the put-back and MVNU grabbed the rebound only to turn it over to Spring Arbor with 36 seconds left.
Spring Arbor returned the favor with a turnover to Mount Vernon with 25 seconds on the clock and then Mount Vernon held the ball for the last shot. As the shot went up with about six seconds to go, the ball came off the rim and a rebound and put-back by MVNU's Megan Beidelman bounced on the rim for what seemed like an eternity but was actually about five of six times before falling off the side as the buzzer sounded and the battle for a CL Tournament spot went into overtime.
The 5:00 Overtime period went mostly Spring Arbor's way with the home Cougars out-scoring the visiting Cougars 15-9 to grab the tournament spot with the 93-87 win.
Garrison's 30 points overshadowed a brilliant 24 point performance by Kylie Townsley and Carlie Newman's near triple-double, 15 point, nine assist, nine rebound effort. Lindsey Burnside finished with 10 points, and Driesenga hauled in eight rebounds.
Spring Arbor tallied 23 assists as a team which was aided by the effective 30-65 shooting from the field, including 11-25 (44%) from 3-point range.
"What a great way to end a home career for Jessica Garrison," said Frost. "30 points to end her career and she did a great job all day. That goes for the whole team, really it was a great team win. It was a very unselfish and they all worked hard. They battle back when things were down and I just couldn't be more proud of this group."
Spring Arbor will play the University of Saint Francis Cougars who capped off their regular season with a perfect 30-0 season today with an 89-69 win over Goshen at home. The first round is scheduled for Tuesday night at 7:00 with the #1 seed hosting the #8 seed, the #2 seed hosting the #7, #3 hosting the #6, and the #4 seed hosting the #5 seed. The winners advance with the higher seed hosting the lower seed.
