MAYFIELD, Ky. – Mid-Continent University (1-22, 1-9 TSAC) out-scored Lyon College (12-11, 3-7 TSAC), 28-10, over the last 8:29 of the game, erasing a 13-point Lyon lead, and defeated the Scots, 64-59, in Saturday, February 5 TranSouth Athletics Conference women’s basketball action in the Mayfield High School Sports Arena.

Mid-Continent fell behind 29-21 by halftime and trailed by 16 points, 45-29, with 14:26 left in the game and by 13 points, 49-36, with 8:50 left before beginning its run to victory. The Cougars made good on 14 of their 21 field goal tries (.667) in the second half, a season-high, and made 11 of 13 free throws and committed just seven second-half turnovers.

Freshman forward Stephanie Malone (Louisville, KY/Iroquois HS), MCU’s leading scorer and rebounder, scored 17 of her game-high and season-high 25 points in the second half, including six during MCU’s game-winning streak, made 11 of her 12 field goals and also grabbed 12 rebounds as she recorded her eighth double-double of the season and second in two games this week. Senior guard Tiffany Payton (Wadesville, IN/Mater Dei HS/Kaskaskia CC) scored 12 points with 2 three-pointers and 4 of 4 free throws during the decisive streak and finished with 19 points with 3 three-pointers and made all eight of her free throw tries.

The Cougars laid to rest three lengthy losing streaks with the victory. MCU ended an 18-game TSAC losing streak which includes the last nine conference games of the 2009-10 season and the first nine TSAC games this season. MCU’s last TSAC victory came January 28, 2010, when the Cougars defeated Blue Mountain, 69-64. The Cougars also snapped this season’s 22-game losing streak, and put an end to a 32-game losing streak that included the final 10 games of last season and the first 22 games this season. Prior to Saturday, MCU’s last win came February 1, 2010, when it beat Brescia, 75-69.

MCU also became the last team among all NAIA Division I schools to claim a victory this season, and for the first time since joining the TSAC in 2006-07, the Cougars defeated a TranSouth opponent other than Blue Mountain College.

Mid-Continent hosts fifth-place Martin Methodist College (14-8, 4-5 TSAC) in Mayfield High School Sports Arena, Thursday, February 10, at 6 p.m., for the second of three consecutive home conference games. In other Saturday TSAC action, Union University (23-0, 10-0 TSAC), ranked number one in the NAIA, won at Martin Methodist, 66-49. Second-place Freed-Hardeman University (19-5, 8-2 TSAC), ranked number seven in the NAIA, edged Cumberland University (11-12, 3-7 TSAC) on the road, and third-place Bethel University (18-4, 7-2 TSAC), ranked number six in the NAIA, enjoyed its bye weekend. Fourth-place Trevecca Nazarene University (10-11, 7-3 TSAC) beat Blue Mountain College (5-16, 1-9 TSAC), 74-51, on the road and dropped the Toppers into an eighth-place tie with Mid-Continent. Cumberland now shares sixth-place with Lyon after MCU’s win over the Scots.

Supporting Malone and Payton’s efforts, junior forward Heather George (Morristown, TN/Morristown West HS/Roane State CC) contributed 5 points with one three-pointer, all in the second half, and also gathered 6 rebounds and passed 2 assists. Junior guard Shanice Martin (Reno, NV/Hug HS/Feather River CC) added 7 points, 3 rebounds and one steal.

Three Scots scored in double figures with 6-0 sophomore center Suzanne Fincham leading the way with 18 points, 10 in the first half, and 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. Junior forward Lauren Ramsey totaled 14 points, 10 in the second half, and 7 rebounds, and senior NAIA All-American forward K.K. Hodges made just 5 of her 14 shots and totaled 11 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and one steal.

Mid-Continent shot .404 (21-52) from the field for the game, made 6 of 18 three-pointers (.333) and 16 of 20 free throws (.800), out-rebounded Lyon, 43-34, and committed 17 turnovers. Lyon shot .393 (24-61) from the field for the game, made 3 of 15 three-pointers (.200) and 8 of 16 free throws (.500), stole the ball from MCU 8 times and committed 11 turnovers.

COURTESY: MCU Athletics

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