SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – The Spring Arbor University women's basketball team came up just short against Mount Vernon Nazarene University in its first game of 2015, falling to the Cougars 60-58 on Saturday.
Sophomore Kylie Townsley scored two of her team-high 21 points to tie the score with less than two minutes remaining in the game, but MVNU answered on its next possession and managed to escape with the narrow victory.
The loss dropped the Cougars to 5-10 overall and 0-4 in the Crossroads League while Mount Vernon Nazarene snapped a five-game skid to improve to 4-9 and 1-3 in the conference.
Spring Arbor grabbed an early 7-2 advantage to begin the contest and would not surrender the lead until late in the half. Senior Lindsey Burnside hit a jumper to put the Cougars up 27-21 at the 5:32 mark, but the visitors would use an 8-0 run over the next five minutes to take the lead in the final minute. However, Townsley would convert an old-fashioned three-point play to give SAU a 30-29 edge heading into halftime.
Despite struggling on the offense end, the Cougars played great defensively holding MVNU to 28 percent (8-for-29) shooting while turning 13 giveaways into 17 points.
Spring Arbor's offensive struggles continued in the second half – converting on just 6-of-26 attempts from the field – while Mount Vernon Nazarene's Megan Beidelman starting heating up. After being limited to seven points through the first 20 minutes, MVNU's leading scorer poured in 14 points in the second half, including seven during a key 15-0 run by the visitors that erased a 10 point SAU advantage.
With the Cougars still trailing, 57-52, and under five minutes to play, the defense stepped up and created turnovers on four straight possessions, and Townsley and Aimee Konkel would combine to score five unanswered points to level the score at 57-57 with 1:55 left on the clock.
However, Mount Vernon Nazarene responded with a basket on the other end to jump back in front. After a free throw from freshman Faith Johnson cut the deficit to one, the Cougar defense would once again get a big stop to set up a chance for the win in the closing seconds. Spring Arbor was unable to get a good look, though, and MVNU would hang on for the win.
Both teams shot an identical 32 percent from the field, but Mount Vernon Nazarene held a substantial edge on the glass. The visiting Cougars were able to haul in 53 rebounds, including 15 offensive boards that they converted into 13 second chance points.
Townsley added seven rebounds and three assists to her 21 points, as well as seven steals, which tied her career-high. Burnside nearly registered a double-double finishing with nine points and eight rebounds while Jessica Mabry and Johnson chipped in eight points apiece.
Up next, Spring Arbor will travel to Grace College (8-8, 1-3 Crossroads League) on Wednesday, Jan. 7. The game will tip-off at 7 p.m.
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