Gophers Prevail in First Landmark Game in SRC

Gophers Prevail in First Landmark Game in SRC

Jan. 11, 2008

TOWSON, Md. - Shadae Swan (Baltimore, MD/St. Frances Academy) tallied 24 of her game-high 28 points in the second half this evening as Goucher turned a one-point lead at the break into a convincing 72-56 triumph over the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in the first Landmark Conference women's basketball game played in the Sports & Recreation Center.

The Gophers (6-6, 1-1 Landmark) trailed by as many as 10 points before going ahead for the first time on a basket by Swan with :22 remaining before halftime and then taking the lead for good on another two-point bucket by the senior guard 3:27 into the second half. In extending her streak of consecutive double-digit scoring performances to 59 games, Swan was 9-for-20 from the field and a perfect 10-for-10 at the free-throw line.

Swan was just one of four Goucher players to contribute at least 10 points to the victory: Leia Roberts-Brown (Washington, DC/Archbishop Carroll) finished with 12 points, and Amber Smith (Baltimore, MD/Institute of Notre Dame) and Taqwisha Richardson (Roanoke Rapids, NC/Western) chipped in with 10 points apiece.

Richardson also was credited with a game-high 11 rebounds, giving the freshman center her third double-double of the season, and six blocked shots. She ranks second in the Landmark Conference in rebounds, averaging 8.6 per contest.

The Mariners (7-4, 0-2 Landmark) jumped out to an 18-8 lead, thanks in large part to the 10 points Kristen Hesko reeled off in a span of 2:33. Her spurt started with a three-point basket that put her team up 11-6 and ended with another successful shot from three-point range that made the score 18-8.

Roberts-Brown nailed three-point baskets of her own at both ends of a 16-7 run by the Gophers that knocked Merchant Marine's lead down to 25-24 with 2:25 remaining before halftime. The Mariners regained a three-point advantage on a two-point bucket by Morgan Gartner, but two free throws by Candra Scott (Bowie, MD/Eleanor Roosevelt) and a short jumper by Swan gave Goucher the four points it needed to earn a 28-27 lead at halftime.

After shooting just 31 percent the floor in first half, the Gophers were 13-for-29 (.448) the rest of the way. They also went to the free-throw line 23 times in the second half and made 17 (.739).