Trojans Overpowered by Cougars in Home Defeat

UPLAND, Ind. – The Taylor women's basketball team (4-4, 0-2 CL) played soundly on the offensive end but saw its defense slip in a 98-75 home loss versus Mount Vernon Nazarene (5-3, 1-1) Saturday afternoon.

TU had an early 3-2 lead, but it never got in front again as the Cougar offense took over.

Ava Henson came out of the gates hot, making three of her first five shots in an eight-point first quarter in which she scored or assisted on 11 of Taylor's 14 points.

The senior backed that up by knocking down two treys in the second quarter as the Trojans found their roll offensively. Unfortunately, MVNU played with pace and got to its spots with ease as it scored 31 points in the second frame alone to take a 52-33 halftime lead.

TU's offense was unrelenting as well, however, as it forced the Cougars into foul trouble that led to 12 free throws in the third quarter for the Purple and Grey.

Emma Fohl knocked down all four of her foul shots in the quarter and buried a three, while Quinn Kelly and Whitney Warfel combined for 12 points off the bench in the period as Mount Vernon Nazarene's lead was trimmed to as little as 13 points on three occasions late in the third and early in the fourth quarter.

MVNU dominated the paint in the final 10 minutes, though, to put the finishing touches on its win.

Henson scored 21 points, made four three-pointers and tied for a team-high three assists with fellow senior guard Maycee Woods.

Warfel added 11 second-half points to join Henson in double figures with 16.

Defensively, Warfel, Kelly and Kendall Wayne each had two steals, and Kacey Ott blocked two shots.

TU committed a season-low seven turnovers, but it allowed the Cougars to shoot 56.7 percent from the field.

Taylor is off over the Thanksgiving holiday as it prepares to travel to No. 19 Marian (7-1, 2-0 CL) on Dec. 4 for a 5:30 p.m. tip.