Second Half Gopher Rally Turned Back by Saxons

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - The Goucher College women's basketball team scored 19 straight points spanning the third and fourth quarters to turn a 47-32 deficit into a 51-47 lead late, but Alfred University scored the game's final six points to turn back the Gopher rally and post a 53-51 win in the opening round of the Hoops for Hounds Tournament hosted by Lycoming at Lamade Gymnasium Thursday evening.

• Alfred (5-3) opened a 9-2 lead just over three minutes into the game.
• Goucher (2-9) used an 11-1 run capped by a layup by Kyla Smith (Easton, Pa./Easton) to take a 13-10 lead with 3:22 to go in the opening quarter.
• The Gophers led 13-12 through the first 10 minutes.

• The Gophers extended their lead to 16-12 on a conventional three-point play by Kyani Quarles (Houston, Texas/Cristo Rey Jesuit) 14 seconds into the second.
• A 15-0 run by the Saxons turned an 18-15 deficit into a 30-18 lead with just over four minutes remaining before halftime.
• A basket by Sydney Nwuli (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) 2:32 before halftime snapped the Goucher drought.
• The Gophers closed the half on a 7-1 run and pulled within six, 31-25, at the break.

• Goucher cut the lead to three twice early in the second half, with a Quarles basket three minutes in making it 33-30.
• Alexis Kuhlman (Mount Airy, Md./Herndon) cut it to 31-28 with her three 1:49 into the second half.
• A 14-2 Alfred run capped by a layup with 3:42 left in the third put the Saxons up 47-32.
• The Gophers closed the third with eight straight points, with a layup by GVahn Pace (Akron, Ohio/East) with a minute left making it 47-40 heading to the fourth.

• A three by Kuhlman with 6:42 left tied the game 47-47.
• Goucher took the lead with 5:53 to go on a jumper by Quarles, and extended the lead to 51-47 on a Kuhlman basket with 4:39 to go.
• Alfred halted an 11-plus minute scoring drought with a basket with 2:34 remaining.
• The Saxons tied the game 51-51 on a layup by Leah Harkenrider with 1:11 on the clock.
• After Goucher came up empty on its next trip, a Grace Rittenhouse basket with 13.2 seconds to go put the Saxons up 53-51.
• Goucher had one final look but a game-tying jumper was off the mark.

• Quarles registered her fourth double-double of the season with 15 points and 13 rebounds, going 5-8 from the floor and 5-5 at the free throw line.  She added three steals.
• Kuhlman, a second-semester transfer making her Gopher debut, was 3-6 behind the arc and finished with 13 points and seven boards.
• Smith posted eight points, six assists, five rebounds and four steals.
• Kendra Lawrence (Hackensack, N.J./Immaculate Conception) chipped in with six points and four rebounds.
• Goucher, which outrebounded the Saxons 51-43, shot 27% overall and 3-22 behind the arc but was 10-11 at the free throw line.
• Alfred shot 30% overall and was 6-37 behind the arc and 9-25 at the free throw line.

• Goucher takes on tournament host and future Landmark Conference member Lycoming on Friday at 2 pm in the second round of the Hoops for Hounds Tournament.
• The Gophers return home Tuesday, January 10 when they host Catholic in a 7 pm contest at the Decker Sports and Recreation Center.