Southfield, MI - The Lawrence Technological University Blue Devils women's basketball team kicked off their season with a home game against the Mount Vernon Nazarene Cougars during homecoming weekend falling 73-71.

Fisher lead all scorers with 36 (14 in the fourth). Mitchell contributed 12 and eight rebounds, Maggie Long produced seven points, seven rebounds, and three assists off the bench.

Mount Vernon Nazarene started off strong, going on a 19-3 run over the first 4:15 of the game. A couple of baskets by Kendall Fisher cut the deficit to 12 before the teams traded a few buckets. Lawrence Tech ended the first quarter on a 5-0 run to trail by seven, 24-17, after the first quarter.

The second quarter started off similar to the first, as the Cougars started the quarter on an 18-2 run lasting a full seven minutes to give the Cougars a 23-point lead. Once again, the Blue Devils clawed back, fueled by 2 three-pointers by Fisher, ending the first half 43-28.

In the first half, MVNU shot 48.4 percent from the field and 70 percent from behind the arc. LTU shot 31.4 percent from the field and 18.2 percent from behind the arc.

But it was a tale of two halves.

Fisher knocks down a three to start the scoring for the quarter to cut it to 11, Sage Brannon answers with a layup before the teams trade a few more baskets. The Cougars go on a small run to extend their lead to 17.

Then a fire lit from under the Blue Devils. A 10-2 run ensued.

A couple of baskets by Fisher, a basket by Kylie Batey, and pairs of free throws by Gracie Mitchell and Maggie Long narrowed the Cougars 17 point lead to nine with 30 seconds left in the third.

The Cougars would tack on a bucket to end the quarter leading 60-49.

A Mitchell jumper and Fisher 3-pointer had the Blue Devils only trailing by six. Emily Walker and Fisher traded threes before Fisher hit another triple to bring the game within three. 

The Blue Devils, who had been down as much as 19, and 17 in the second half, had whittled it down to three.

Mitchell hit a jump shot and a layup to give the Blue Devils their first lead of the evening. Fisher's layup extended the Blue Devil lead to three.

That lead was short-lived, as Rylee Pirue hit a trey to knot the game up at 66 apiece.

Mitchell hit another jumper before another Rylee Pireu trey gave the Cougars a one-point lead. Pirue made two free throws down the stretch to lengthen their lead back to three. 

Fisher banked in a clutch three to tie the game at 71-71 with a minute and change remaining.

As it looks, the game was set for overtime, but Maggie Coe set up Lily Krieger for the game-winning layup as time expired. The Cougars blew a 19 point lead but escaped with a two-point victory. 

The Blue Devils (0-1) return to action on the road next Friday, October 29 against Indiana East in the Rio Grande RedStorm Classic for a 6 pm tip-off.