Offensive Struggles Send Gophers to Loss in San Juan

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — In the first of two games in San Juan prior to the Christmas holiday, Goucher dropped a low-scoring 41-34 affair to Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras this afternoon.

Sharnell Huff (Bowie, Md./Bowie) led the Gophers (4-5) with 14 points and nine rebounds, while Amaka Ezeani (Silver Spring, Md./Paint Branch) chipped in eight points and seven boards off the bench.

Roxyali Munoz led the Jerezanas, an NCAA Division II institution, with 11 points.

Neither team was able to break 20 points in the opening half, with UPR-Rio Piedras holding a slim 19-17 advantage heading into the intermission. The game remained close throughout the second half, as Goucher trailed just 35-32 with three minutes remaining before the Jerezanas pulled away for the seven-point final margin.

The Gophers hit 27.7 percent of their shots from the field, compared to 24.6 percent for UPR-Rio Piedras. Each team also struggled from the free throw line, with both hitting less than 40 percent of their attempts for the game.

Huff has now scored in double figures in six of the eight games she has played in this season. She also nailed all three of Goucher's 3-point attempts. Monique Welch (Reisterstown, Md./Franklin) added a team-high four assists for the Gophers.

Goucher concludes its trip to San Juan on Sunday afternoon with a 4 p.m. matchup at Puerto Rico-Bayamon.