Saints Keep Winning Streak Against Gophers Intact

Doughty Grabs Career-High 16 Rebounds in 54-35 Setback

TOWSON, Md. — What Goucher couldn't accomplish during the 16 seasons in which it belonged to the Capital Athletic Conference, the Gophers couldn't pull off this evening in the Decker Sports & Recreation Center — a victory over Marymount in the sport of women's basketball.

Beginning in 1991-92 all the way through 2006-07, the two teams squared off on 37 different occasions and Marymount won each and every time. They renewed acquaintances this evening for the first time since Goucher departed for the Landmark Conference and the Saints kept their winning streak intact as they prevailed 54-35.

The Gophers (1-4) overcame a seven-point deficit in the first half to take a 22-21 lead on a free throw by Shante Atkinson (Millersville, Md./Old Mill) with 3:51 remaining before halftime, but the Saints closed out the period with a 9-1 run and enjoyed a 30-23 advantage at the break.

Marymount's Sam Spencer opened the scoring in the second half by connecting on a 3-point attempt, but then the Saints (2-3) encountered a long dry spell, going the next 7:15 without a single point. The Gophers capitalized by reeling off eight consecutive points, closing to within 33-31 on a layup by Sherlanda Buskey (Williamsburg, Va./Jamestown) with 15:11 left to play.

Following Buskey's basket, Goucher experienced a drought of its own as it came up empty on 13 consecutive possessions. The Saints built their lead back up to 41-31 on a layup by Samatha Kane with 9:04 remaining, but the Gophers clawed their way back to 41-35 when Atkinson got a jumper in the paint to drop through with 7:43 showing on the clock.

Goucher's chances of knocking off the visiting Saints basically ended right there, however, as the Gophers were outscored 13-0 the rest of the way. Following Atkinson's basket, they missed their final nine shots from the field and also two free-throw attempts, plus they committed four turnovers down the stretch.

Marymount's Katelyn Fischer came in averaging 23.3 points per contest, and even though the Gophers held her below her average, she still finished with a game-high 16 points. She also was credited with seven assists.

Goucher's only double-digit scorer was Atkinson with 11 points.

The Saints also won the rebounding battle, 49-37. Julie Tomesheski grabbed 19 boards for Marymount, while Kiara Doughty (Salisbury, Md./Wicomico) hauled in a career-high 16 rebounds for Goucher.