Gophers Battle, but Warriors Ultimately Pull Away

TOWSON, Md. - The Goucher College women's basketball team battled back from down as many as 18 points in the first half to within two in the third quarter, but visiting Lycoming College pulled away for a 69-53 Landmark Conference victory Friday afternoon at the Decker Sports and Recreation Center.

• Goucher (1-13, 1-6 Landmark) scored the game's first two points on a Maiya Villanueva basket 1:13 in.
• The Warriors (9-6, 3-5) scored the next 11 points to go up 11-2 at the 6:41 mark.
• A Julia Cavoli basket with 4:49 on the clock cut the lead to 11-6 before another 11-0 Lyco run made it 22-6 with just over two minutes to go.
• The guests carried a 26-12 lead into the second period.

• Lycoming took its largest lead, 32-14, just under three minutes into the second.
• Goucher scored the next six points and a Savannah Holmes three with 3:36 to go before halftime made it 32-20.
• The Gophers closed the half on a 14-3 run and a basket by Villanueva to end the half cut the deficit to seven, 35-28.

• A quick 7-2 spurt capped by a Cavoli three pulled the Gophers within two, 37-35, with 8:37 to go.
• The Warriors countered with a 9-2 string and went up 46-37 at the 4:36 mark.
• With 2:43 left, a Darby Sherman three put Goucher back within four, 48-44.
• The guests outscored Goucher 8-2 the rest of the quarter and went up 10, 56-46, entering the final frame.

• Lycoming started to gradually pull away, opening up a 65-49 lead midway through the final frame and leading by as many as 18 down the stretch.
• Goucher would cut the deficit to 14 with 2:13 left on a basket by Merci Turner, but got no closer.

• Cavoli and Briyah Haggins paced the Gophers with 12 points apiece.
• Cavoli was 2-3 behind the arc and also had four rebounds, while Haggins added five rebounds.
• Turner recorded nine points and seven rebounds, while Holmes chipped in with seven points and seven boards.
• Goucher shot 33.8% overall, was 4-12 behind the arc, and 5-7 at the free throw line.
• The Warriors, who held a 50-37 advantage on the glass, shot 40.8% overall, were 2-17 behind the arc and 9-15 from the charity stripe.

• Goucher is back in action Sunday, traveling to Philadelphia on Sunday to face Elizabethtown in a noon contest at The Palestra.
• The next Gopher home game is Saturday, January 27, when Goucher hosts No. 9 Scranton in a 4 pm game at the Decker SRC.