Lady Cougars earn their first league win

The MVNU women’s basketball team (5-8) picked up two wins and a loss last week.

In MVNU’s first conference victory, a 73-70 win against Spring Arbor University, four Lady Cougars recorded double digits.

Junior Sierra Basista led the way with 16 points. Freshman Dani Ellerbrock and junior Natalie Carpenter both put up 15 points and sophomore Rachel Parks recorded 10 points in the victory.

Ellerbrock also pulled down five rebounds and dished out six assists.

“We were just playing with confidence and having fun and it came together for us,” Head Coach Amanda Short said of the victory.

Two days later, the Cougars fell to Ohio Christian University 54-49.

Senior Megan Beidelman led the Cougars offensively with 17 points, also pulling down 17 rebounds. Ellerbrock recorded 11 points and Basista tallied 10.

Short was happy with the Cougars’ defensive effort, but said their offense was not enough.

“Our defense was great, but we did not get the stops when we needed them the most,” she said.

The Cougars capped off the week with a 66-54 victory over Cincinnati Christian University on Saturday.

Beidelman posted a double-double for the second straight game, recording 16 points and 12 rebounds.

“We responded well to a tough loss on Friday and did really well as a team when it came to the things we are focusing on in practice,” Beidelman said after the victory.

The Cougars look to improve on consistency as they take the week off to prepare for Cedarville University.

“We still have to continue to get more consistent in playing to our potential,” Beidelman said.

Another focus for this week will be improving on both ends of the court.

“We will continue to work on tightening up our defense as well as polishing up some of our sets on offense,” Beidelman added.

The Cougars will travel to Cedarville on Saturday for a 2 p.m. tipoff.