The Mount Vernon Nazarene University (MVNU) women's basketball team faced a challenging game against No. 13 Rio Grande, ending in a 107-72 defeat. The match took place on November 26 in Rio Grande, Ohio. Despite trailing early in the first quarter, MVNU rallied with a strong performance, tying the game at 24-24 by the end of the period thanks to Lily Shepherd's three-pointer.
In the second quarter, MVNU continued to compete effectively against Rio Grande's offense. Olivia Skillings' layup gave MVNU its first lead at 29-28. The Lady Cougars maintained their momentum and led 43-39 after another score from Skillings. However, Rio Grande regained a slight edge at halftime with a score of 48-48 following another last-second three-pointer by Shepherd.
MVNU shot an impressive 58.8% from the field in the second quarter and made four out of five three-point attempts during that period. Overall, they were six for eight from beyond the arc in the first half.
The third quarter saw Rio Grande take control with an 8-0 run, eventually outscoring MVNU 31-11. This momentum continued into the fourth quarter as Rio Grande secured their victory by outscoring MVNU 28-13.
MVNU ended the game shooting 41% from the floor and made seven out of eighteen three-point attempts. In contrast, Rio Grande shot 53.7% overall and dominated inside scoring with a significant advantage in points in the paint.
Kylie Leibacher led MVNU with 18 points on seven-for-eleven shooting, while Shepherd also contributed 18 points with four successful three-pointers out of seven attempts. Skillings added seven points and six assists to her team's efforts.
Looking ahead, MVNU will return to Ariel Arena for Crossroads League play against Spring Arbor University on December 3 at 5:00 p.m.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University is known for its commitment to academic excellence and spiritual growth among its nearly 2,200 students across various states and countries.
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