Rylee Pireu scored 30 points and pulled down nine rebounds, both career highs, but the Mount Vernon Nazarene women’s basketball team fell short in its season-opener.
Elysia Mattos’ free throw with 3.6 seconds left lifted host Rochester to an 84-83 win in non-conference play on Oct. 30 in Rochester Hills, Mich.
Pireu had a chance to win the game at the buzzer, but her runner hit off the rim and bounced out.
Maggie Coblentz converted a three-point play to give the Cougars (0-1) a 55-51 lead with 7:46 left in the third quarter. It was the only time either team led by more than a possession in the second half. Maddie Mattimore converted a pair of free throws for the Warriors on the next possession and the game was a back-and-forth battle from there.
Elizabeth Fee had 11 points, five rebounds and five assists; Coblentz added 10 points and eight rebounds for MVNU and Maggie Coe dished out six assists for the Cougars.
Taylor Gregory was held to nine points and three rebounds in 13 minutes of play for the Cougars.
Jacara Thompson had 26 points and five assists, Delaney Bolles had 24 points and 15 rebounds and Mattos added 23 points and nine assists to lead the Warriors (1-0).
The largest margin came in the first quarter when Rochester led by seven points on two occasions. The Cougars finished the frame with a 7-0 run to tie the score.
MVNu shot 45 percent from the field (27 of 60) and converted six of 15 three-pointers (40 percent). Rochester was 44 percent from the field (33 of 75) and was just six of 27 from three-point range (22.2 percent), but the Warriors outrebounded the Cougars 36-29.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Alexa Skal celebrated Senior Day with a goal to lead MVNU to a 1-0 win over Siena Heights on Oct. 31.
Skal scored off a Kaitlin Meade pass in the 32nd minute for the game’s only goal.
Lilly Jakuszewski notched the shutout without having to make a save in goal for the Cougars (5-4-2), who snapped a two-game skid.
Kara Bishop stopped eight shots in goal for the Saints (2-3).
The Crossroads League tournament is up next for MVNU. It kicks off on Nov. 7, though pairings have not yet been announced.
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Paige Brenner and Tory Small both turned in solid performances, but MVNU fell 25-10, 25-18, 25-22 to Bethel in Crossroads League play on Oct. 31 in Mishawaka, Indiana.
Brenner dished out 22 assists and had 11 digs and five kills for the Cougars (4-6, 4-6), who played for the first time since Oct. 7 after missing out on seven matches.
Small led the Cougars with 11 kills, 1.5 blocks and the team’s only ace. Ellie Ruby had 15 digs, and Molly Galaszewski added 11 more for MVNU.
Maddy Payne had 11 kills and six assisted blocks, Isabelle North had 10 kills and three assisted blocks, Madyson Beaver had 22 assists and Jackie Fernandez had 25 digs to lead the Pilots (14-3, 14-3).
The Cougars and Pilots were originally scheduled to play on Oct. 21. Games against Huntington (home, Nov. 2), Saint Francis (home, Nov. 6) and Grace (away, Nov. 7) have also been rescheduled, while games against Goshen and Spring Arbor have not.
