Mount Vernon, OH - the Spring Arbor women's basketball team used another second half comeback to defeat a Crossroads League opponent, this time defeating the Mount Vernon Nazarene Cougars by a score of 67-64.
 
After a back and forth start to the game, Mount Vernon used an 8-2 run to close out the second quarter and head into halftime leading by a score of 38-30. Spring Arbor has found themselves trailing at half in each of their last three games, coming back to win in two of those contests.
 
Spring Arbor was able to cut into Mount Vernon's lead and pull within four heading into the fourth. Following a layup from Daelynn Jackson, the Cougars found the game knotted at 53 with eight minutes left in regulation. The teams traded buckets down the stretch, with Mount Vernon finding a 62-60 advantage with 1:06 remaining in the game. With 43 seconds to go, Alana Nelson found Alex Long on the perimeter, and Long coolly knocked down a 3-pointer to give SAU a one point advantage. From there, Long and junior Alize Tripp each connected on a pair of free throws to close out the game, and Spring Arbor escaped with the narrow victory.
 
This is a massive win for the Cougars, who jumped from seventh to fifth in the Crossroads League standings with today's win. Spring Arbor, Mount Vernon Nazarene and St. Francis all sit at 6-7 in conference play, but Spring Arbor owns the advantage in overall record which allows them to sit at the number five spot currently.
 
The Basics:
Spring Arbor 67, Mount Vernon Nazarene 64
Location: Mount Vernon, OH
Records: Spring Arbor 16-7 (6-7 CL), Mount Vernon Nazarene 11-12 (6-7 CL)
 
Game Stats:

• Alana Nelson led all scorers with 18, and added a team high 13 rebounds as well.
• Sophomore Sydney Aunins provided a nice spark off the bench, going 5-7 from the field and adding 11 points for the Cougars.
• Spring Arbor's defense was a key contributor to the win, holding MVNU to 34.7% from the field and 27.3% from behind the arc, both below their season averages.
• Spring Arbor's fifth place standing in the conference is on pace to match their highest finish since the 2015-16 season, where they finished fifth. They have a chance to best that finish with five conference games remaining.
• Madelyn Lawson led Mount Vernon with 13 points, and Angela Roshak posted a double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds.

 
Next Up: The Cougars travel to Marion, IN next Wednesday to face #7 Indiana Wesleyan University.