MVNU executes down stretch to top (RV) HU by four

Huntington, Ind. – It came down to execution down the stretch in an 89-85 battle that favored the visiting Cougars of Mount Vernon Saturday afternoon at Platt afternoon over the #RV HU women's basketball team.

With 3:41 to go, Liv Raby backed down her defender to kiss a shot off the backboard that gave her team a 79-72 advantage. Unfortunately, the hosts got stuck on 79 until Raby went 1-for-2 at the line with just over a minute remaining. Her freebie gave HU an 80-79 lead but it proved their last lead of the contest as MVNU scored on five of their final six possessions after that to secure the win that saw them close out the game on a 17-6 run starting at the 3:30 mark.

The beginning was very different than the ending for Maggard and crew. The Foresters found an early rhythm that included nailing five threes in the opening ten minutes on the way to erupting  for 30 points in the quarter. It made for a 30-22 difference at the first break that ballooned to as many as 14 at 42-28 in the second quarter before the Cougars found solid footing to start their comeback.

The final six minutes before intermission saw Mount Venon make up seven points for a 53-46 disparity by the midway point. They kept things rolling to start the third to eventually force a tie at 59-59 halfway through the quarter. When all was said and done, the Cougars ended up outscoring Huntington 17-8 in the third to head into the fourth up 63-61.

The fourth was up for grabs with the hosts hopeful after building a seven-point advantage with less than four minutes to go. But when push came to shove, Mount Vernon proved more efficient in the closing moments in come-from-behind fashion to snap their two-game losing streak to the Foresters.

Serenitee Johnson had a banner day for MVNU, posting career-highs of 34 points and 17 rebounds for the double double. Teresa Maggio added 25 points while Megan Weakley dropped in 12 for the Cougars.

Gabi Melby finished with 21 points and six assists to pace the Foresters. Raby collected 16 points and eight boards. Kyndell Jochim and Annaka Nelson each netted 12 points while Bailey Kelham tossed in 11.  

Both teams entered the game with the exact same record of 5-4 which included a 1-2 CL record. With this loss HU drops to 5-5 overall, 1-3 in league action. The Foresters are off this coming week for finals before heading to Florida where they will take on Keiser December 17 and Providence on December 18.  

The Huntington University Foresters compete in 18 intercollegiate sports for men and women. In the past decade, Huntington has produced 160 NAIA All-America honors and 567 All-America Scholar Athlete honors. Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. U.S. News & World Report ranks Huntington among the best colleges in the Midwest.