MOUNT VERNON – The Mount Vernon Nazarene’s University women’s basketball team (4-2, 0-0 CL) got a big upset victory over the University of Rio Grande (5-1, 0-0 RSC) on Tuesday, Nov. 15, coming back in the final two minutes to win, 84-80.
The game between the Lady Cougars and the Red Storm was a tight one throughout. After a 19-19 score after one, MVNU closed the second quarter strong to take a 39-35 lead into the half. Both teams continued to battle hard in the third. MVNU was able to stretch its lead out to as many as eight and closed the quarter with a 62-56 lead. The fourth quarter was a heavyweight fight, and the physicality of the game began to pick up. MVNU maintained the lead for majority of the quarter until a jumper from Rio put it on top, 78-77, with 2:13 remaining.
The Lady Cougars remained poised. Rylee Pireu was fouled on the next possession, and with MVNU in the bonus, the senior stepped up and drained both free throws. MVNU would not trail again as it got the stops on defense that it needed down the stretch. Angela Roshak capped her tremendous night off with four free throws late to secure the 84-80 upset for MVNU.
Roshak continued her strong start to her freshman season with a 27-point, 16-rebound double-double. Roshak shot 11-for-18 from the floor and dished out four assists.
Madelyn Lawson also had a huge impact on the game as a freshman. Lawson had a career-high 15 points on 5-for-8 shooting and 2-for-3 shooting from three. She grabbed five rebounds and blocked two shots. Rylee Pireu had 13 points on 4-for-11 shooting from the floor. Pireu grabbed five rebounds and had two assists. Emily Walker made a big contribution off the bench for MVNU with 12 points, six assists and six rebounds. Walker shot 4-for-6 from the floor and 3-for-5 from deep. Maggie Coe finished with six points and a game-high 10 assists.
MVNU women's basketball coach Amanda Short praised her team's toughness and team effort.
“I was really proud of the grit we showed tonight," Short said. "The entire game was back and forth. We showed so much fight tonight. Roshak was a force in the paint and on the boards. She came up big in so many possessions. I’m also really proud of the way Walker and Lawson stepped up off the bench. Great team win.”
MVNU next played at No. 11 Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Ind., on Friday, Nov. 18. The results were unavailable at press time.
