Spartans Break Open Close Game, Top Gophers by 33

Spartans Break Open Close Game, Top Gophers by 33

Double-Digit Scoring Performances for Smith, von Ende

November 25, 2008

TOWSON, Md. – During the first 14 minutes tonight, Goucher and York were never separated by more than four points. But after a three-point play by Amber Smith (Baltimore, Md./Institute of Notre Dame) with 5:55 remaining before halftime again got the Gophers to within a point of the lead, the Spartans began to assume control of the non-conference contest.

For starters, York closed out the first half with a 12-0 run to open up a more comfortable 38-25 advantage at the break. Then the Spartans (4-1) continued to pour it on the entire second half and eventually secured a 76-43 victory over head coach Didi Cotton's Gophers.

"We stayed with them for almost the entire first half, but it definitely wasn't our best effort of the season," Cotton said after the game. "We'll use this game as a learning experience and become a better team because of it."

By the time a lay-up by Elizabeth von Ende (Leawood, Kans./American Hebrew Academy) provided the Gophers (2-2) with a 14-12 advantage after just seven minutes of play, all five of Cotton's starters had gotten into the scoring act. But then over the final 5:54 of the opening period, the Gophers went 0-for-8 from the floor and committed seven turnovers.

von Ende nailed a shot from three-point range on Goucher's third possession of the second half, reducing York's lead to 40-28, but that's as close as the Gophers would get.

Smith beat out von Ende for scoring honors for Goucher. The junior guard raised her average this season to 13.8 points per game with a 14-point effort, while the freshman guard/forward chipped in with 10 points.