WARREN, Mich. – A shorthanded Monarchs team saw their seven-game winning streak come to an end Saturday (Dec. 17) as the visiting Cougars of Kalamazoo Valley Community College edged the Blue & White by a 63-56 final. The hard-fought setback sends the Monarchs to 10-2 on the season. The Cougars shifted to 6-3 after picking up the seven-point win.

Tied 14-14 after one, the Monarchs couldn't get shots to fall in the second quarter as the Cougars pushed ahead to take a 24-19 halftime lead. The Monarchs evened the game up after three quarters of play, 40-40, but the Cougars made tough shots down the stretch to win the non-conference battle. In a back-and-forth contest, the Monarchs and Cougars tied seven times and the lead changed on four occasions. 

Tamia Tounsel (Shelby Twp., Mich./Dakota) posted a team-high and new career-high with 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting. The 20-point afternoon edged Tounsel's previous career best of 19 set against Cuyahoga Community College two weeks ago. Tounsel added a team-high eight rebounds and tied for the team lead with two steals Saturday afternoon.

Ryleigh Sanom (Berkley, Mich./Berkley) also set a new career-high with 15 points, eclipsing her previous best of 13 points tallied at Kellogg Community College last week. Sanom added three assists and three rebounds to her career-high 15 point afternoon.

Kamryn Richards (Grosse Pointe Park, Mich./Grosse Pointe South) dished out five of the Monarchs' 15 assists, while Amy Jackson (Flat Rock, Mich./Flat Rock) collected seven rebounds. Jaelynn Jones (Sterling Heights, Mich./Stevenson) and Valina Hudgins (Warren, Mich./Lincoln) followed Jackson on the glass with six and five rebounds, respectively.