Blue Jays Ride 19-Point Swing to 71-55 Victory

Blue Jays Ride 19-Point Swing to 71-55 Victory

Smith Collects 18 Points, 12 Rebounds for Fourth Double-Double

January 3, 2009

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Space Mountain and Splash Mountain are two of the most popular rides in the Magic Kingdom. At Disney MGM Studios, there's almost always a long line to enter the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

But there is no attraction inside any of the parks at DisneyWorld known as "The 19-Point Swing."

Instead that's what took place in the first half of this evening's basketball game between Goucher and Johns Hopkins played at The Milkhouse at Disney's Wide World of Sports, part of the ECAC Holiday Festival. The Gophers enjoyed a 16-11 lead with eight minutes remaining before halftime, but by the time the break rolled around, the Blue Jays had rallied to go ahead 33-19.

The 19-point swing over the final 7:15 of the first half provided the Blue Jays (2-7) with a double-digit lead that they were able to maintain the rest of the way as they defeated the Gophers, 71-55, in the first meeting between the two teams since the 2002-03 season.

A three-point field goal by Elizabeth von Ende (Leawood, Kans./American Hebrew Academy) of the Gophers created a 9-9 tie in the eighth minute of the contest and another one by Amy Smith (Logan Twp., N.J./Paulsboro) put Goucher (4-5) ahead, 12-9. But after a lay-up by Amber Smith (Baltimore, Md./Institute of Notre Dame) extended the lead to 16-11, the Gophers went 1-for-9 from the field and committed four turnovers during a 22-3 run by the Blue Jays the remainder of the period.

The closest the Gophers were able to get at any point in the second half was 46-36 on a lay-up by Amber Smith with 12:11 left to play.

Amber Smith was Goucher's leading scorer and rebounder as she tallied 18 points and hauled in 12 boards for her fourth double-double of the season. von Ende and Kiara Doughty (Salisbury, Md./Wicomico) furnished the Gophers with 14 and 10 points, respectively.

Kristin Phillips was 9-for-13 from the field in a 19-point, 10-rebound performance for Johns Hopkins.

The Blue Jays have now prevailed in all six games between the two teams that have been played since Goucher joined the NCAA prior to the 1987-88 season. Johns Hopkins owns an 18-2 lead in the all-time series which dates back to 1976-77.