Gophers Put Gators Away with Early 10-3, 13-0 Runs

TOWSON, Md. — By scoring 10 of the game's first 13 points, it took Goucher barely six minutes to open up a double-digit lead over visiting Notre Dame (Md.) this evening. When the next 13 points all went up on their side of the scoreboard, the Gophers owned a commanding 23-3 advantage over the Gators and were well on their way to a 66-19 triumph.

A basket by Marylu Ortiz and a free throw by Erika Deppenschmidt produced the only three points the Gators (0-3) managed to score in the opening 11 minutes of the contest, the first between the close rivals since the 2009-10 season. By that point, Sharnell Huff (Bowie, Md./Bowie) and India Perkins (Brentwood, Md./Bladensburg) had supplied the Gophers (2-1) with eight points apiece.

By halftime, Goucher was ahead by 27 points at 38-11.

A free throw by Jamia Harris (York, Pa./York Country Day) 2:03 into the second half provided the Gophers with a 30-point cushion for the first time, 41-11. The lead topped 40 points for the first time on a layup by Perkins that made the score 57-16 with 7:46 left to play.

Olivia Nono (Silver Spring, Md./Montgomery Blair), who was 6-for-11 from the field, was Goucher's leading scorer as she contributed 13 points to the win. Huff and Perkins both added 12 points as the Gophers improved to 6-4 in their last 10 games in the Decker Sports & Recreation Center against Division III opponents from the state of Maryland.

In addition to her 12 points, Huff finished with team-high totals of nine rebounds and eight steals.

The top scorer for Notre Dame, which was after its first win over Goucher since December 9, 2004, was Ortiz, who ended up with six points.

The Gophers have a three-game homestand coming up, starting with Cedar Crest on November 26. Before then, however, they travel to Lynchburg, Va., on Saturday to take on Randolph.