Morrow has 26 as Cougars down Lancers

DAVE MOSIER/independent sports

The Van Wert Lady Cougars celebrated the full return of the injured Alexis Dowdy with a 55-41 victory over Lincolnview on Saturday.

Dowdy, who has either been out or played limited minutes for several games because of injury, played 32 minutes and scored 12 points in the Cougar win. Erin Morrow led Van Wert with 26 points, including two three-pointers that gave her the school career three-point shooting record formerly held by Eliza Dickinson. Morrow now has 103 treys in her career.

Julia Thatcher led Lincolnview with 19 points, while Ashton Bowersock added 9 points for the Lady Lancers.

The Lady Cougars took a four-point lead, 16-12, at the end of the first quarter, but saw that cut to two points, 25-23, at the half. Van Wert then upped its intensity, outscoring the Lancers 30-18 in the second half to secure the victory.

The Lady Cougars made 20 of 34 field goal attempts (58.8 percent), including 3 of 13 from three-point range (23.1 percent). Van Wert made 12 of 20 free-throw attempts (60 percent).

Lincolnview was 16 of 34 from field goal range (47.1 percent), including 3 of 10 three-point attempts (30 percent). The Lady Lancers made 6 of 9 free-throw attempts (66.7 percent).

The Cougars also outrebounded Lincolnview, 21-15, and forced the Lancers into 15 turnovers, while losing the ball only six times.

With the win, Van Wert is now 3-10 overall, while the Lancers fall to 8-5 on the season.