The Official Home of the University of Saint Francis Cougars
Sat., Feb. 20, 2010
MISHAWAKA, Ind. -- Better defense was just what the University of Saint Francis need to close the regular season on a winning note on Saturday afternoon.
The 12th-ranked Lady Cougars held No. 24 Bethel College to 32 points in the second half and won 79-71, USF's 11th win in its last 12 games. USF (20-10, 13-3 MCC) scored the first seven points of the second half to wipe out a 39-36 halftime deficit, a Bessie Jenkins 3-point play starting the surge.
USF will open Mid-Central College Conference Tournament action at home on Tuesday night in a first-round game against Grace, the No. 7 seed. USF is the No. 2 seed.
"Julie Seiss was in foul trouble in the first half, so we had to have Bessie, Angie (Roy), Kayla (Mullins) and others step up and make plays," USF coach Gary Andrews said. "Angie played good defense and hit some shots. Bessie played great defense on (Heather) Seyfred and scored 18 of her 26 points in the second half. 'B' (Bianca Woods) played well today."
Jenkins finished with a double-double adding 11 rebounds in 35-plus minutes. Mullins finished with a solid 17 points, Seiss added 14 points, nine in the second half and Roy scored 11 points to match her season best.
"We didn't shoot very well today and our defense made the difference in the second half when we limited (BC) to 25 percent shooting," Andrews said. BC only connected on 9-of-36 shots in the second half. The Lady Cougars, who are 19-5 against NAIA Division II competition, shot 39 percent hitting on 26- of- 66 shots. The Lady Pilots (19-11, 8-8 MCC) shot 53 percent in the first half hitting 16-of-30 shots.
Jenkins' 3-point play to start the second half tied the game at 39, the seventh tie of the game and the last. With 18:58 to play, Seiss scored on a layup for a 41-39 lead and USF never trailed again. BC cut the deficit to 43-42 on a Seyfred 3-pointer, but a Roy 2-pointer and a Mullins 3-pointer put USF up 48-42 with 15:33 to play. The Lady Pilots got no closer than 77-71 with 14 seconds to play.
USF led by as many as seven points in the first half, 16-9 with 12:01 left. Mullins hit a 3-pointer for a 36-31 lead with 2:31 to play in the half, but BC closed with an 8-0 finish for a a 39-36 halftime lead.