#31 Taylor ends Lady Cougars' season

Tues., Feb. 26, 2008

UPLAND, Ind. -- Taylor University avenged two regular-season losses to the University of Saint Francis with a decisive 70-51 win on Tuesday night in the first round of the 2008 Mid-Central Conference Tournament.

USF concludes its season at 7-24, 19 of those losses by forfeit. It was the final game for four seniors -- Tara Dice, Jessica Hathaway, Jenny Richards and Kacy Blotkamp. Hathaway and Burney led USF with 11 points apiece. Marie Kaufmann added 10.

The Lady Cougars, ranked No. 6 in last week's NAIA Top 25 before the forfeit ruling from the NAIA, trailed 36-21 at the half. USF cut the deficit to seven, but could get no closer.

"We had to use up so much energy to battle back, we just couldn't get any closer," USF coach Gary Andrews said. "Give Taylor credit, they outplayed us."

USF had won at Taylor 73-62 in January and 69-52 at USF on Feb. 9.