Lady Cougars get crucial road win.

Wednesday February 7, 2007   KVCC (61) vs. Muskegon CC (57) at Muskegon. MI

         Coming off a fine win against Kellogg on Saturday, it would be somewhat understandable if the Lady Cougars were a bit flat.  The Cougars found themselves in a huge hole in Muskegon's gym as the Jayhawks sprinted out to a 22-8 lead over the stunned visitors. "We didn't play real well - in the first 5-6 minutes in particular - but showed a lot of character coming back from a 14 point deficit early and cutting it to 7 points at the half.  This Muskegon team is really talented and probably the best shooting team in the conference." proclaimed a pleased Coach Welch.  "The win keeps us on top in the Western conference with an 9-2 record, but probably more importantly it gives us a sweep of our games with them and will really help if we get into a tie break situation for the conference championship. We battled hard once we figured out that we were in for a fight. When you can get a conference win on the road and not play your best, you take it and run!"  The win gave the Cougars their 20th win on the season and moved them back into first place in the conference by themselves with a league- leading 9-2 record and a sparkling 20-2 over all mark.
                                                                                               
      The Cougars would turn the game around in the early stages of the second half as Jealyn Foston and Kendra Kutz  made a strong push.  Kutz scored eight of her 11 points in the first 4 minutes of the half to bring the Cougars back to a tie game and force a Jayhawk timeout.  "We came out of the locker room with a purpose." said an impressed Welch.  "Kendra was driven after sitting most of the first half with foul trouble.  She was almost un-guardable for about a four minute stretch and then Jealyn picked up the slack.  It was fun to watch."  The Cougars put four people in double figures led by Kate Whittaker who had a double double with 11 points and 12 rebounds and Kutz's 11.  Kim Gear and Jealyn Foston each had 10 points with Gear adding 6 rebounds and three blocks.  Point Guard Amber Peters was superb in the floor game with 9 big rebounds, seven assists and 3 steals while 'Spanky' Karasiewicz collected six assists.  The Cougars also outrebounded MCC 46-40 on the night and forced 24 turnovers.

                                         
                                                 Kate Whittaker tallies a double double (11 points/12 rebounds)
                                                                                                                                                Pictures courtesy of Jill Welch

      The charity stripe was a point of concern on the night and could have really cost them as they shot an anemic 9/19 (47%).  "Thank goodness the poor shooting from the line didn't cost us the game.  We did make some clutch free throws down the stretch, so I guess we got the ones that counted." said an obviously pleased Welch after the game.

                                
      League play continues on Saturday as the Lake Michigan College Indians visit Cougar Arena. Game time is 1:00 pm.  "It's important to view these last few league games as play off games and take them one at a time." commented the Cougar coach.  "Every game has an impact on the standings and those results impact the seeding for the MCCAA tournament. Game by game we finish the regular season and we want to be playing our best basketball of the season going into post season play."

                                                                                                             Pictures courtesy of Jill Welch