MIDWAY, Ky. – The Indiana University Kokomo women's basketball team fell to Midway University Saturday afternoon, 61-57. In the second matchup between the two schools this season, the Cougars took a seven-point lead into halftime but were unable to close it out. IU Kokomo is now 9-13 with a 6-9 River States Conference mark.
 
Midway jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead before IU Kokomo responded with five straight points of their own to knot the game at five in a low scoring first quarter. The Eagles led 13-7 with 32 seconds remaining in the quarter but a Gabrielle Joyner triple pulled the Cougars within three points after one quarter.
 
Both offenses were able to get going in the second quarter to make the second quarter the highest scoring quarter of the game. The Cougars had yet to take their first lead of the game until the 4:07 mark of the second quarter when Vanessa Mullins converted through contact for an old-fashioned three-point play and IU Kokomo's first lead of the day at 22-21.
 
Midway held a 28-27 lead with 1:41 left in the first half, but the Cougar defense forced turnovers on three consecutive possessions and capitalized offensively. Gabby Joyner fueled an 8-0 IU Kokomo run with two three-pointers and a layup to give the Cougars a 35-28 halftime advantage.
 
As they did in the first, the Eagles scored the first four points of the second half cut the IUK lead to three at 35-32. IUK extended the lead to seven at 39-32, but Midway responded with treys on back-to-back possessions to fuel an 8-0 run and regain the lead. The game was tied at 46 before a Jalyn Jackson bucket with four seconds remaining in the quarter to give the Eagles a two-point lead after three quarters.
 
IU Kokomo allowed Midway to extend the lead to 53-46 early on in the fourth, but the Cougars immediately answered with a 7-0 run to even the score at 53 with 6:22 to go. IUK was held scoreless for nearly five minutes before Anna Kiser knocked down a jump-shot to cut the Midway lead to four. Trailing 59-55 with 53 seconds remaining, Jaela Meister split a pair of free-throws to trim the lead to three but Midway responded with a bucket to ice the game and give Midway a 61-57 win over IUK.
 
Gabby Joyner posted a double-double with a game-high 23 points and 10 rebounds, both season-highs, to lead the Cougars. Sierra Peete added 13 points.
 
Vanessa Mullins was the third double-digit scorer for the Cougs with 11 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore Anna Kiser pulled down a season-high 13 rebounds.
 
IU Kokomo will return home for their final home game of the season Tuesday evening as they play host to IU Southeast. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
 
For the latest news, updates, and information on the IU Kokomo Cougars, fans can visit IUKCougars.com. Fans can also stay up to date on the latest Cougar news by following @IUKAthletics on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.