Gophers Bow to Royals, Drop from Top Spot

Gophers Bow to Royals, Drop from Top Spot

Jan. 18, 2008

SCRANTON, Pa. - The number of teams sharing first place in the Landmark Conference was reduced from four to two this evening, and unfortunately, Goucher was one of the two that dropped out of the four-way tie for the top spot.

The Gophers stayed within striking distance of Scranton, the preseason pick to win the inaugural Landmark Conference title in 2007-08, well into the second half, but the Royals (9-5, 3-1 Landmark) walked off the court at the conclusion of the game with a 66-56 victory.

Goucher's only leads of the contest were 2-0 on a lay-up by Shadae Swan (Baltimore, MD/St. Frances Academy) on the Gophers' first possession and 4-2 when the second possession culminated in a basket by Leia Roberts-Brown (Washington, DC/Archbishop Carroll). 

The two teams were separated by only seven points at halftime (27-20), and midway through the second half, the Gophers (7-7, 2-2 Landmark) trailed by only five (42-37). It was at that point that the Royals went on a 12-4 run, opening up a 54-41 advantage on a lay-up by Megan Kopecki with 5:47 left to play.

Swan was the leading scorer and rebounder in the contest as she finished with 25 points and eight rebounds. She extended her streak of double-digit scoring efforts to 61 consecutive games.

Amber Smith (Baltimore, MD/Institute of Notre Dame) supplied the Gophers with 16 points as Goucher's five starters outscored Scranton's starting five, 52-34.

Kopecki accounted for a majority of the points the Royals received from their bench as she ended up with 20 points. Two starters - Kathleen Daly and Julie Brophy - added 10 points apiece.