Gophers Achieve First 2-0 Start Since 1999-2000
SCRANTON, Pa. – Amber Smith (Baltimore, Md./Institute of Notre Dame) was the leading scorer and rebounder for Goucher as the Gophers achieved their first 2-0 start to a season since 1999-2000 with a 50-38 triumph over John Jay this evening in the opening round of the Coca-Cola Tip-Off Tournament.
Gophers Achieve First 2-0 Start Since 1999-2000
Smith Contributes 19 Points, 14 Rebounds to 50-38 Victory
November 21, 2008
SCRANTON, Pa. – Amber Smith (Baltimore, Md./Institute of Notre Dame) was the leading scorer and rebounder for Goucher as the Gophers achieved their first 2-0 start to a season since 1999-2000 with a 50-38 triumph over John Jay this evening in the opening round of the Coca-Cola Tip-Off Tournament.
The junior guard tallied a game-high 19 points and was credited with 14 rebounds, giving her the eighth double-double of her career.
The lead changed hands four times in the first 5:31 of the contest, the final time when the Gophers went ahead 7-6 on a basket by Kiara Doughty (Salisbury, Md./Wicomico) that ignited a run of nine unanswered points. By the time Leia Roberts-Brown (Capitol Heights, Md./Archbishop Carroll) made a free throw to complete a three-point play with 11:45 remaining before halftime, Goucher's lead had grown to 14-6.
Only nine points separated the two teams with 2:30 left to play in the first half, but the Gophers reeled off eight unanswered points to open up a 36-19 advantage at the break.
A lay-up by Smith capped a 6-0 to open the second half that provided the Gophers with their largest lead of the game, 41-19. The Bloodhounds (0-1) never got closer than to within nine points the rest of the way.