Gophers Find Presidents Remain in Power in Bahamas

NASSAU, Bahamas — Although 10 different players got into the scoring act for Goucher against Washington & Jefferson this afternoon, not one of them managed to tally more than six points. As a result, the Gophers were handed a 65-34 setback in the first of two games they will play at the Bahamas Sunshine Shootout.

Elizabeth von Ende (Leawood, Kan./American Hebrew Academy) got Goucher on the scoreboard first as she knocked down a 3-point attempt just 37 seconds into the contest. But with a layup by Brittany Logan (Ft. Washington, Md./Friendly) and a free throw by Shante Atkinston (Millersville, Md./Old Mill) accounting for the only three points the Gophers (1-8) managed over the next 7:26, the Presidents (5-5) were able to open up a 16-6 lead.

After Blair Cotton connected on a 3-point try midway through the first half to provide Washington & Jefferson with a 21-10 advantage, head coach Didi Cotton's squad was never able to reduce its deficit to single digits the remainder of the contest. By halftime, the Presidents were up 34-18.

Ashley Kirkpatrick, who supplied Washington & Jefferson with 18 points off the bench, was game's leading scorer. TaQuasia Lambert (Brooklyn, N.Y./Patapsco) finished with only six points, but that was enough to be the top scorer for Goucher.

The Gophers, who were out-rebounded 51-29, were 12-for-52 from the field (.231), plus they missed their final 10 shots from 3-point range following von Ende's successful attempt in the opening minute.