Cougar News

12.11.2009 - [Women's Basketball]
Katie Perry gave MCU 16 points and 7 rebounds in close loss to Ashford, Dec. 11.
Katie Perry gave MCU 16 points and 7 rebounds in close loss to Ashford, Dec. 11.
Whiting, IN - Ashford University from Clinton, Iowa improved its record to 7-5 with a 64-54 victory over Mid-Continent University (0-10) in Friday, Dec. 11 women's basketball action at the Crimson Wave Invitational hosted by Calumet College of St. Joseph in Whiting, Indiana. MCU takes on Marygrove College from Detroit (5-4) at the Crimson Wave Invitational, Saturday, Dec. 12, at 12 noon.  Marygrove lost 71-44 to CCSJ in Friday's other game.
 
    After the Christmas holidays, MCU returns to action with its first two TranSouth contests on Thursday, Jan. 7, at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville at 6:00 p.m., and against Lyon College (Ark.) at the Mayfield High School Sports Arena, Saturday, Jan. 9, at 2:00.
 
    After outscoring Ashford, 11-3, in a span of 4:20 midway through the first half, Mid-Continent claimed its widest advantage of the season to date, 20-12, with 9:40 left. Ashford reversed the momentum however with a 17-1 run and led 29-21 with 4:50 remaining. The Cougars sliced the Saints' margin to 31-29 with 2:24 left, and Ashford led 33-29 at intermission.
 
     Sophomore guard Magen Hancock (Clinton, KY/Hickman County HS) nailed 2 three-pointers for 6 points in the first half, and junior forward Katie Perry (Anchorage, AK/Grace Christian School) and sophomore guard Nicki Dewitt (Louisville, KY/Atherton HS) both scored 6 first-half points to lead MCU, while guard Jordan Davis led Ashford with 8 points, including 6 during Ashford's 17-1 run.
 
    MCU shot .458 (11-24) from the field in the first half and made 5 of 12 three-pointers, while Ashford shot .367 (11-30) and made 3 of 11 three-pointers. Ashford enjoyed an 8-2 free throw advantage, and MCU committed 13 turnovers while Ashford committed 7.
 
    Ashford scored six consecutive points at the start of a 13-4 run and led 46-33 with 12:52 left in the second half, its first of three 13-point leads in the game. Making 8 consecutive free throws, the Cougars cut the Saints' lead to six points three times in a span of 3:18 and trailed 58-52 with 1:05 left, but could draw no closer.
 
     For the game, MCU shot .386 (17-44) from the field, made 5 of 20 three-pointers and 15 of 20 free throws. The Cougars committed 20 turnovers, with just 7 in the second half, and Ashford stole the ball 12 times. Ashford shot .354 for the game (23-65), made 4 of 16 three-pointers and 14 of 19 free throws and committed just 11 turnovers, 4 in the second half. The Cougars outrebounded Ashford, 38-33.
 
     Perry led MCU with 16 points on 6 of 8 shots and gathered 7 rebounds, giving her a third double-double this season and also stole the ball twice. Dewitt tied a season-high with 8 points, and sophomore forward Amanda Daugherty (Golconda, IL/Pope County HS) contributed 4 points, a game-high 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. Junior guard Tiffany Payton (Wadesville, IN/Mater Dei HS/Kaskaskia College, IL) added 8 points, and Hancock finished with 6 points, all in the first half, and 2 three-pointers. Junior guard Jean-Ann Riley (Mayfield, KY/Graves County HS) gave the Cougars 5 points, a three-pointer, 3 rebounds and 2 assists.
 
    Two Ashford players scored in double figures, including Jordan Davis and forward Bethany Mahmens each with 10 points. Forward Kelly Fisher contributed 8 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals, and reserve Kayla Crist added 9 points.