Cougar News

Mayfield, KY - Mid-Continent University (1-15, 0-5 TSAC) scored the game's first 11 points in the first 1:35 against Bethel University (12-6, 3-2 TSAC), but the Wildcats, ranked 19th in the NAIA, scored 20 consecutive points at the start of a 31-1 run and led 31-12 with 6:43 left in the first half of an 82-50 TranSouth conference women's basketball victory over the Cougars, Thursday, Jan. 21, at the Mayfield High School Sports Arena. Bethel led 51-18 at halftime and by as many as 41 points midway through the second half.

    Next on its schedule, MCU hosts sixth-ranked Freed-Hardeman University (13-4, 1-3 TSAC), Saturday, Jan. 23, at 4:00 p.m.

    MCU's 6-3 center Kandi Knupp (Iuka, MS/Tishomingo County HS/N.E. Mississippi CC) led the Cougars with 16 points, on 7 of 10 shots, and added 4 rebounds and 3 blocked shots for the Lady Cougars. Knupp ranks sixth in the nation with 48 blocked shots. Junior forward Katie Perry (Anchorage, AK/Grace Christian School) added 10 points, 7 rebounds, a blocked shot and a steal, and junior guard Tiffany Payton (Wadesville, IN/Mater Dei HS/Kaskaskia College, IL)contributed 9 points, 2 three-pointers, 3 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 assists.

     Bethel's senior center and leading scorer and rebounder, Nina Djokovic, who averages a double-double, led the Wildcats with 17 points and 11 rebounds, and forward Teena Carter scored 11 points and grabbed 7 rebounds and passed 4 assists. Reserve forward Jana Roney posted an rare double-double of 13 points on 13 of 14 free throws and 10 rebounds and stole the ball 3 times. Guard Jovana Petrovic contributed 9 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists.

     In the game, MCU shot .351 from the field (20-57), made 4 of 15 three-pointers and 6 of 9 free throws and finished with 21 turnovers, 13 in the first half, and 5 steals. Bethel shot .375 from the field (27-72), nailed 6 of 23 three-pointers and made 22 of 25 free throws (.880) and also committed just 12 turnovers. Bethel led 51-35 in rebounding over MCU and stole the ball 10 times.