Gophers Can't Get Shots to Drop, Bow to Hornets

LYNCHBURG, Va. — Goucher was 25-for-72 (.347) from the field and made only two of the 19 shots it launched from behind the 3-point stripe against Lynchburg this evening and the result was an 80-65 loss to the Hornets.

The Gophers scored the first points of both halves. A made jumper by Chris Outing (New Windsor, N.Y./James I. O'Neill) 1:37 into the contest provided head coach Tom Rose's squad with its one and only lead of the contest as the Hornets (5-3) answered 25 seconds later with a 3-pointer by Daniel Rowe.

Although Lynchburg led by as many as 11 points in the first half, just three points separated the two teams after 20 minutes and Goucher closed to within 36-35 when Outing got another jumper to drop to open the scoring in the second period. Over the next 7:20, however, the Hornets went on a 13-2 run to expand their advantage to 49-37.

Goucher's only two 3-point field goals in the contest belonged to Tucker Canary (Silver Spring, Md./Montgomery Blair), and each one allowed the Gophers (4-6) to knock their deficit down to nine points during the middle stages of the second half. But when Zack Burnett sank a 3-point attempt with 6:18 remaining, Lynchburg had its first 20-point lead at 67-47.

The Hornets were in front 80-58 with two minutes left to play, but the Gophers tallied the game's final seven points.

Outing and Kevin Miles (District Heights, Md./Gwynn Park) were the only two double-digit scorers for Goucher and each one furnished the Gophers with 12 points.

Burnett contributed 16 points to the victory, which gives Lynchburg a 4-0 advantage in the all-time series between the two schools.

Goucher will play its final game prior to the Christmas/New Year's break one week from today when it welcomes Gallaudet to the Decker Sports & Recreation Center. The opening tip is set for 2 p.m. and the Gophers will look to avenge a 75-71 setback to the Bison in 2014-15.