Women’s Basketball Picks Up Road Victory at Kuyper, 90-66

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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Marygrove women’s basketball team picked up its first win of the 2014-15 season Thursday (Nov. 13) in Grand Rapids, topping the host Kuyper College Cougars by a 90-66 final. The Mustangs (1-3) used a 54-21 points in the paint advantage and a career-high 26 points from junior guard Elisha Major (Flushing, Mich./Flushing High School) to pick up the non-conference, road victory.

With the win, second-year head coach Craig Covington picked up his first victory while roaming the women’s sideline since taking over the program midway through the 2013-14 campaign.

The Mustangs set the tone early in Grand Rapids, making the most of their final tune-up before WHAC play begins Saturday (Nov. 15) at home opposite No. 16 Siena Heights. In all, the Green and Gold forced the Cougars into 25 turnovers on the night to own a 23-10 edge in points off turnovers. The 13-point margin was made possible by the Mustangs strong start defensively as the team posted a 12-0 advantage in points produced off turnovers in the first half alone.

The strong defensive play, combined with an attacking mindset offensively, lifted the Mustangs to a commanding 47-26 halftime lead.

In the second half, the Mustangs put the game away by knocking down 17 of their 40 field goal attempts, including a 4-for-7 effort from three-point territory. In all, the Mustangs relentless defense and tireless effort in the paint on both ends of the floor proved to be too much for the Cougars. The Mustangs outrebounded the hosts by a 57-43 margin, adding to the positive points in the paint and turnover numbers to pick up the 24-point victory.

Major’s game-high 26 points was a product of 12-of-18 shooting from the floor and a 2-for-4 night from three-point land as the junior helped the Mustangs run away with the win. Thursday’s victory was the first for the program since the Mustangs topped the same Kuyper program a year ago to the day, Nov. 13, 2013, in Grand Rapids.

Senior guard Raeha Weaver (Battle Creek, Mich./Kellogg CC) dropped in 17 points and added six rebounds and six assists to continue her strong start, while Tiffany Bradford (Detroit, Mich./Dakota College) and Janeesa Jamierson (Battle Creek, Mich./Kellogg CC) chipped in with 14 and 12 points, respectively.

Theresa Dray (Davison, Mich./Davison High School) pulled down a collegiate best 10 rebounds to go along with four points, helping the Mustangs dominate the paint throughout the contest.

As a team, the Mustangs dished out 19 assists – a total that hasn’t been met on the road in two seasons.

The Cougars were led by Kaiylynn Rosier with 17 points and four rebounds.

The Mustangs host No. 16 Siena Heights Saturday inside Detroit’s Northwest Activities Center. The Mustang Sports Network will cover the game live, producing the first live video broadcast in Marygrove women’s basketball history beginning at 12:50 p.m. on marygrovemustangs.com/live.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CONTACT: Tim Johnston | tjohnston@marygrove.edu | @tjohnston56
MARYGROVE BROADCASTS: Mustang Sports Network | Twitter
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