Gophers Pull Away From Gallaudet

TOWSON, Md. - The Goucher College women's basketball team outscored visiting Gallaudet University 17-4 in the final frame to post a 49-36 non-conference victory Wednesday evening at the Decker Sports and Recreation Center.  Kyla Smith (Easton, Pa./Easton) and Kendra Lawrence (Hackensack, N.J./Immaculate Conception) each finished with double-doubles for the Gophers.

• Goucher (2-4) scored the first five points of the game with a Smith free throw at the 6:30 mark making it 5-0.
• Gallaudet (0-6) scored the next six points to take a 6-5 lead with 2:06 on the clock.
• The Gophers scored four quick points and a fast break layup by Smith with 1:29 to go made it 9-6.
• Goucher led 9-8 through 10 minutes.

• The Bison outscored the Gophers 8-2 in the first three minutes of the third to take a 16-11 lead.
• Trailing 18-14, Goucher closed the half on a 7-2 run and a basket by Ava Cox (Elkton, Md./Elkton) 27 seconds before intermission put Goucher up 21-20 at the break.

• A three by Smith 1:14 into the second half extended the hosts' lead to four.
• Gallaudet retook the lead with six straight points but it as short-lived as a Lawrence triple with 6:10 to go put Goucher back in front 27-26.
• The Bison led 32-28 with under two minutes to play but Goucher went 4-4 at the free throw line in the final 1:10 to tie the game 32-32 heading into the final frame.

• A basket by Kya Taylor (Dinwiddie, Va./Dinwiddie County) and a three by Smith in the first minute of the fourth put Goucher in front 37-32.
• Gallaudet cut the lead to 3-34 on its next possession before a Lawrence basket made it 39-34 with 6:37 to go.
• Goucher held the Bison without a field goal over the final 8:58 as it closed the game on a 12-2 run.
• Smith had nine of Goucher's points in the decisive run, including a three with nine seconds to go.

• Smith finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds en route to her second double-double of the season.  She also had a pair of steals.
• Lawrence also registered a double-double with 14 points and a game-high 16 rebounds, while also recording three blocks and a pair of steals.
• Taylor was 2-3 from the floor and added five points, while Sydney Nwuli (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) grabbed seven rebounds.
• Goucher, which outrebounded the Bison 51-40, held its guests to 25.9% shooting for the game.  The Gophers shot 28.6% overall.
• The Gophers improved to 2-2 at home this season.

• Goucher opens Landmark Conference play on Saturday when it travels to eighth-ranked Scranton for a 2 pm tip.
• The Gophers return home next Wednesday, December 7 when they host Salisbury in a 5:30 non-conference game at the Decker Sports and Recreation Center.