Freshmen Sparkle as Gophers Pounce on Tigers

Freshmen Sparkle as Gophers Pounce on Tigers

Goucher's Biggest Margin of Victory Since 1993-94 Opener

November 15, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Four freshmen playing in the first game of their collegiate careers scored in double figures for Goucher today as the Gophers were cruising to a convincing season-opening 81-16 triumph over Trinity (D.C.).

The 65-point margin of victory is the biggest for the Gophers since they launched their 1993-94 campaign by defeating Lincoln, 109-29.

Elizabeth von Ende (Leawood, Kans./American Hebrew Academy), Kelsey Myette (Binghamton, N.Y./Seton Catholic Central) and Kiara James (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) all tallied the first points of their careers during a 14-0 run by the Gophers (1-0) to start the game. The Tigers (0-1) didn't get on the scoreboard until a basket by Jamie Lepak with 8:57 remaining in the first half.

By the end of the first half, the Gophers were comfortably ahead, 32-6.

von Ende was the leading scorer for Goucher as she contributed 19 points to the non-conference victory. Myette missed a double-double by one rebound as she finished with 14 points, nine boards, six assists and a pair of steals. Doughty supplied the Gophers with 13 points.

In Kiara Doughty (Salisbury, Md./Wicomico), the Gophers had a fourth freshman turn in a double-digit scoring performance as she ended up with 13 in her debut. Goucher even had a fifth double-figure scorer in sophomore guard Leia Roberts-Brown (Capitol Heights, Md./Archbishop Carroll), who dropped 15 points on the Tigers.

Junior forward Amber Smith (Baltimore, Md./Institute of Notre Dame) came close to the eighth double-double of her career at Goucher. She latched onto a game-high 11 rebounds and scored nine points.

The Gophers were 34-for-68 from the field (.500) and were guilty of only eight turnovers.