PORT HURON, Mich. – Tamia Tounsel (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) made a buzzer-beating shot to send the game to an extra period, but the Cougars of Kalamazoo Valley Community College would squeak by in overtime by a 54-53 final on Saturday (Jan. 6) in Port Huron. Tounsel, who played the role of hero late for the Monarchs, finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds and four steals to record her seventh double-double of the campaign.

The narrow setback shifted the Monarchs to 8-4 on the season. The Cougars moved to 4-7 with the win.

The Monarchs had a chance to win it as the overtime clock expired but didn't get a call to go their way as the Cougars held on for the one-point win.

Marissa Thomas (Toledo, Ohio/Perrysburg) led all scorers with a game-high 16 points and was followed by Tounsel who checked in with double-double No. 7 on the season. Olicia Porritt (Mt. Clemens, Mich./Mt. Clemens) dropped in 11 points and shot 3-of-5 from 3-point range, while Kamryn Richards (Grosse Pointe Park, Mich./Grosse Pointe South) finished with seven points, three steals and three rebounds. MaKayla Downs (Chesterfield, Mich./L'Anse Creuse North) tallied five points and Danielle Billinger (Detroit, Mich./Riverview Gabriel Richard) was second on the Monarchs in rebounds with six.

UP NEXT
It's finally here! MCCAA Eastern Conference action begins Saturday (Jan. 13) on the road at Schoolcraft. Tip-off for the conference opener is slated for 1 p.m. in Livonia.