Cougar News

Paducah, KY - Second-place Trevecca Nazarene University (15-5, 7-1 TSAC), ranked number 12 in the NAIA national poll, defeated Mid-Continent University (3-17, 1-7 TSAC) for the second time this season, this time by a score of 82-59 in TranSouth collegiate women's basketball action, Thursday, February 4, at Paducah Tilghman High School.

     TNU ended MCU's modest two-game win streak and won for the eighth time in its last nine games. An improved MCU squad fared much better in this second meeting with the Trojans, losing by just 23 points, much better than the 63-point loss (99-36) back on Jan. 7, in Nashville. For its next action, MCU meets fifth-place Lyon College (14-8, 4-5 TSAC) for a TranSouth game, Saturday, Feb. 6, in Batesville, Arkansas, at 2:00 p.m.

    Four Cougars scored in double figures with junior starting forward Katie Perry (Anchorage, AK/Grace Christian School) leading the way with 19 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals, earning her third double-double of the season. Junior reserve forward Alisha Herndon (Clarksville, TN/Montgomery Central HS) added 12 points and 6 rebounds, and points, and junior guard Tiffany Payton (Wadesville, IN/Mater Dei HS/Kaskaskia College, IL) totaled 13 points, 2 three-pointers, 3 rebounds and 2 assists. 6-3 center Kandi Knupp (Iuka, MS/Tishomingo County HS/N.E. Mississippi CC) added 10 points, 7 rebounds and one blocked shot and ranks sixth in the NAIA with 57 blocks this season. Sophomore forward Amanda Daugherty (Golconda, IL/Pope County HS), scored just 2 points but collected 9 rebounds, giving her 40 rebounds in her last three games (13.3 rpg).

     Four Trevecca players also scored in double figures with forward K.C. Van Atta leading the team with 18 points, 2 three-pointers and 4 assists. Center Paige McFarlin added 14 points, 11 rebounds and 2 assists, and guard Chelsey Taylor added 15 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals. Guard Christian Gibson contributed 12 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals and continues to lead the TSAC in steals.

     After a close first few minutes, Trevecca gradually pulled away and led by 26 points, 40-14, with 6:02 left in the first half. Mid-Continent fought back and cut the halftime margin to 44-34 with a 20-4 run, with Perry scoring 10 and Payton tallying 5 of the points. In the second half, Trevecca rebuilt the lead to as many as 25 points twice.

     Mid-Continent shot .379 from the field for the game (20-64), made 2 of 14 three-pointers and 17 of 22 free throws, and committed 24 turnovers and outrebounded Trevecca, 50-43. Trevecca shot .382 from the field (26-68), made 4 of 17 three-pointers and 26 of 32 free throws and committed 12 turnovers. Trevecca stole the ball 15 times from MCU.