LIVONIA, Mich. – What a game! In a thrilling back-and-forth battle in the second half, it was the host Ocelots of Schoolcraft college who prevailed, 71-62, thanks in large part to a late third quarter run. The Monarchs, now 8-5 overall and 0-1 in the MCCAA East after dropping the conference opener, put their resiliency on display by battling back from an early double-digit deficit to force Saturday's road tilt to go down to the wire.

The host Ocelots, a team receiving votes in the latest national poll, improved to 10-3 overall and 1-0 in league play.

Down 19-14 after one quarter of play, the Monarchs were able to outscore the Ocelots in the second period, 18-17, to trail by a narrowly at the half, 36-32. Third quarter action saw the Monarchs take the lead, but the Ocelots were able to go on a 17-5 run to take a 55-51 lead into the fourth and final quarter.

The 17-5 burst proved to be the difference as the Ocelots went on to secure the nine-point win.

Tamia Tounsel (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) was a force from start-to-finish on her way to recording an impressive double-double with 26 points and 15 rebounds. The 26 points tied Tounsel's career-high, while the 15 rebounds marked a season-best (one shy of her career-high 16 rebounds set last season against Bryant & Stratton-Ohio). The 26-point, 15-rebound effort marked Tounsel's fifth consecutive double-double (eighth of the season).

Marissa Thomas (Toledo, Ohio/Perrysburg) was the lone other Monarch in double figures with 10 points. The sophomore guard added six rebounds and was followed in scoring by Sydney Garon (Shelby Twp., Mich./Henry Ford II) and Kamryn Richards (Grosse Pointe Park, Mich./Grosse Pointe South) who tallied nine and eight points, respectively.

Richards swiped a game-high five steals in the hard-fought effort on the road.

Due to a cancelation by Wednesday's original opponent, the Monarchs will now host Lake Michigan College at 5:30 p.m. (Jan. 17).