MORRIS, Minn. – After erasing a 13 point first half deficit the Cougars (2-8) could not fully get over the hill as they lost 69-56 to Mayville State (8-3) on Friday night.
Tori Holt set a new career high with 21 points on 8-11 shooting; she also added 10 rebound to earn a double-double. The Comets had 24 offensive rebounds and forced 22 turnovers in the game.
Emily Auch added eight points and eight rebounds. Morris held the advantage in points in the paint, outscoring the Comets 34-20. The Cougars outshot the Comets on the night by nearly seven percentage points on the night but it couldn't make up for the Comets 16 second chance points.
After five minutes of play in the first half the Cougars led 10-8 but Mayville would go on a 10-0 run to take an 18-10 lead. Mayville would push their lead to 13 at 7:27 mark. The lead would get as large as 15 in the first half before Morris scored with about ten seconds left in the half to make it 37-24 at the break.
The Comets hit a three at the start of the second half to extend their lead to 16, their largest of the game. Over the next four minutes of play UMM went on a 15-2 run, cutting the lead to three at 42-39. Mayville State pushed their lead back to eight five over the next five minutes. The Cougars were able to tie the game at 51 with six minutes left in game after Holt converted a pair of free throws.
Much like their first meeting Mayville State would go on a 7-0 run to clinch the victory. The Comets would end the game on an 18-5 run.
Morris will play next Friday night at 5:30 p.m. at Valley City State in the final game of 2014 calendar year. The Cougars will not play at home again until they open up UMAC play on January 10 against Crown.
