Greyhounds Defeat Gophers, Claim Playoff Berth

Greyhounds Defeat Gophers, Claim Playoff Berth

Smith Misses Fifth Consecutive Double-Double by One Rebound

February 14, 2009

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Goucher came close to knocking off Moravian the first time the two teams played this season back in January, losing by only three points at home at a time when the Greyhounds were ranked No. 14 in the USA Today/ESPN Division III Coaches' Top 25 Poll.

At least for most of the first half, the Gophers, despite being able to dress only seven healthy players, stayed within striking distance of the second-place team in the Landmark Conference during this evening's rematch. Even after Moravian's lead reached double digits for the first time in the final minute of the period, Amy Smith (Logan Twp., N.J./Paulsboro) landed a shot from three-point range to reduce Goucher's deficit to 42-33 as the teams headed to their locker rooms.

Any chances of the the two teams going down to the wire a second time in 2008-09 were all but completedly dashed when the Greyhounds reeled off the first 12 points of the second half, opening up a 54-33 advantage on a lay-up by Amy Heffner. Moravian, which needed a win to clinch a berth in the upcoming Landmark Conference postseason tournament, never backed off and earned a 90-56 victory.

The Gophers (5-15, 1-11 Landmark) were able to keep it as close as they did in the first half because they were 11-for-27 (.407) from the field. Over the final 20 minutes, however, their shooting tailed off considerably, down to 22.9 percent (8-for-35).

Goucher's Elizabeth von Ende (Leawood, Kan./American Hebrew Academy) led all scorers as she produced 16 points. Amber Smith (Baltimore, Md./Institute of Notre Dame) missed her fifth straight double-double by just one rebound as she supplied the Gophers with 13 points.

Goucher had a third double-digit scorer in Kiara Doughty (Salisbury, Md./Wicomico), who wound up with 11 points.

The leading scorer for Moravian (19-4, 9-3 Landmark) with 14 points was Amanda Brown.