Gophers Tame Tigers, Protect Home Court

Gophers Tame Tigers, Protect Home Court

Nov. 29, 2007

TOWSON, Md. - Although Goucher never trailed the entire game against Trinity (D.C.) in the Sports & Recreation Center tonight, the Tigers were only three points behind midway through the second half. It was at that point that the Gophers reeled off 12 unanswered points and they were on their way to a convincing 80-56 victory.

Over the final 10:35 of the contest, the Gophers (3-2) outscored Trinity, 33-12. In the second half, Goucher was 18-for-38 from the field (.474) and a perfect 10-of-10 at the free-throw line.

Shadae Swan (Baltimore, MD/St. Frances Academy), who finished with a game-high 21 points, provided the Gophers with a 6-0 lead by connecting twice from three-point range in the opening 2:35. The Tigers (1-5) came back to tie the score at 6-6, but Goucher went ahead to stay on a pair of free throws by Kathleen O'Grady (Palmyra, PA/Palmyra) with 12:43 remaining before halftime that made the score 8-6.

The Gophers led at the break, 33-25.

In the second half, Goucher's lead fluctuated between five and 10 points until, with 10:36 left to play, Ashley West hit a pair of free throws for Trinity to knock her team's deficit down to 47-44. But the Tigers wouldn't score again until a basket by Preshuse Jackson with 7:08 showing on the clock.

Jackson was the leading scorer for Trinity as she tallied 18 points. 

Four of Goucher's five starters scored in double figures. After Swan, Candra Scott (Bowie, MD/Eleanor Roosevelt) and Amber Smith (Baltimore, MD/Institute of Notre Dame) both contributed 15 points to the win and O'Grady added 10 points. Smith also was credited with a game-high 11 rebounds as she notched her second double-double of the young season.