Women’s Basketball Battles in Hard-Fought Conference Opener at SAU

SPRING ARBOR, MI. —  The Mount Vernon Nazarene University women’s basketball team (4-3, 0-1 CL) began Crossroads League Conference competition on Wednesday, November 20, at Spring Arbor University (7-1, 1-0 CL).

The first quarter between MVNU and SAU was a close back-and-forth affair. SAU opened the game with the first two baskets, taking a 4-0 lead at the 8:36 mark. MVNU responded, eventually taking a 10-9 lead after a field goal by Serenitee Johnson at 3:04. At the end of the quarter, SAU led 16-14, with Teresa Maggio scoring late for MVNU.

In the second quarter, SAU went on an 11-3 run, pushing ahead to a 26-17 lead with 4:07 remaining. MVNU countered with a rally, capped by 5 consecutive points from Angela Roshak, cutting the deficit to 26-22. The first half concluded with SAU holding a narrow 32-29 lead over MVNU in a tightly contested game.

MVNU opened the third quarter with a 7-4 run, tying the game at 36. SAU responded with its own 6-point run to make the score 42-36 at 6:26 in the third quarter. MVNU closed the gap to 42-41 with a five-point run. The score to end the third quarter was SAU 53 to MVNU 50.

SAU kicked off the fourth quarter with a 9-0 spurt, pushing its lead to 62-50 over MVNU. Megan Weakley responded for MVNU with consecutive baskets, contributing four straight points to halt the SAU streak. With 2:38 remaining, SAU held a 70-63 advantage. Despite MVNU’s efforts to rally, they ultimately fell to SAU, 78-67.

Inside the Box Score:

MVNU posted a 43.3% shooting performance, converting 26 of 60 field goal attempts, while connecting on 28.6% of its shots from three-point range, sinking 4 of 14.

Spring Arbor delivered a 40.3% shooting performance from the field, converting 27 of 67 attempts, while also hitting 33.3% from beyond the arc, sinking 4 of 12 shots.

MVNU’s bench outscored SAU 14-8, while SAU edged out the guests in the points-in-the-paint battle, 44-42.

SAU capitalized on MVNU’s 23 turnovers, turning them into 23 points.

Maggio – 23 points (7-19 FG, 1-4 3PT, 8-11 FT), 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal.

Johnson – 15 points (7-11 FG), 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 1 steal.

Weakley – 14 points (6-7 FG, 1-1 3PT, 1-1 FT), 2 rebounds, 2 blocks.

Roshak – 10 points (4-11 FG, 1-3 3PT, 1-1 FT), 11 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block.

What’s Next:

The women’s basketball team gears up for another Crossroads League showdown, taking on the Taylor University Trojans on Saturday, November 23 in Upland, Indiana. Tipoff is set for 1:00 p.m.