Smith's Late Basket Pushes Gophers Past Neumann in Renie Amoss Tip-Off Opener

TOWSON, Md. - Graduate student Kyla Smith (Easton, Pa./Easton) poured in 28 points, including the go-ahead basket with 6.8 seconds remaining, as the Goucher College women's basketball team recorded a 63-60 victory over Neumann University in the first round of the Renie Amoss Tip-Off Classic Friday evening at the Decker Sports and Recreation Center.a

• Trailing 7-6 early, Goucher (1-1) used a 6-0 spurt capped by a basket by Julia Cavoli (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) to put the Gophers up 12-7 just past the midway point of the first half.
• Neumann (0-2) countered with an 8-2 spurt to go up 15-14 with 3:16 to go.
• A basket by Darby Sherman (Neptune, N.J./St. Rose) with 2:12 left put Goucher up 18-15 and the hosts held an 18-17 lead through 10 minutes.

• The two teams traded the lead three times over the opening minutes of the second and a Smith free throw with 5:43 on the clock tied the game 25-25.
• The Knights extended their lead to 30-25 3:30 before intermission.
• Goucher trailed 36-29 with 1:16 left but Claire Flynn (Annapolis, Md./Broadneck) and Smith hit threes in the final minute to cut the lead to one, 36-35, at the break.

• Goucher retook the lead on two free throws by Smith 3:16 into the third quarter that made it 39-38.
• The lead changed hands three times before a 6-0 spurt by Neumann put the guests in front 46-41 with 2:33 on the clock.
• A Cavoli triple with 2:09 on the clock cut the lead to 46-44, but the Knights carried a 48-44 lead into the final frame.

• A layup by Kyani Quarles (Houston, Texas/Cristo Rey Jesuit) just over a minute in made it 48-47.
• Goucher tied the game 53-53 with 3:55 to go on a Quarles free throw.
• After Neumann retook the lead on its next possession, the Gophers countered with a Flynn basket to force another tie with 3:28 left.
• Five straight points by the guests gave them a 60-55 lead with 2:29 left.
• Smith went 1-2 at the line on two straight trips to cut the lead to 60-57 with just over two minutes on the clock.
• Coming off a Neumann turnover, Briyah Haggins (Waldorf, Md./Westlake) knocked down a basket with 17 seconds left to cut the lead to one, 60-59.
• Goucher gave a foul, and after two missed free throws, Smith grabbed the rebound.
• After the hosts advanced the ball on a timeout, Smith converted a layup and drew contact with 6.8 seconds to go to put the Gophers in the lead for the first time in the fourth.
• Smith missed the free throw, but after grabbing the rebound the Knights turned it over.
• Smith was fouled with 0.5 seconds left and sank both free throws to account for the final.

• Smith totaled 28 points on 8-18 shooting in her Goucher debut after she missed Tuesday's season opener.  She also added five rebounds and three assists.
• Quarles registered a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds, going 6-9 from the floor and 3-5 at the line.
• Flynn finished with seven points.
• Goucher shot 40.4% overall and was 13-22 at the free throw line and 4-19 from long range.
• The Gophers took 11 more trips to the free throw line, as Neumann was 4-11 at the stripe while shooting 43.1% overall and 6-23 from three.
• Both teams grabbed 38 rebounds.
• The game saw eight ties and 14 lead changes with neither team leading by more than seven.
• The win marked the first win at Goucher and first NCAA victory for first-year head coach Joya Whittington.

WBB: Kyla Smith draws the foul and gets two with 6.8 seconds left to put @GoucherWBB in front as the Gophers win 63-60!#d3hoops #GopherGreatness #GoucherProud pic.twitter.com/75ccSXGLdT

— Goucher Gophers (@GoucherSports) November 12, 2022

• Goucher wraps up the Renie Amoss Tip-Off Classic on Saturday when it takes on Arcadia at 4:30 pm at the Decker Sports and Recreation Center.