Blue Jays Handle Gophers in First Landmark Meeting

TOWSON, Md. — With 12:25 remaining in the second half, a pair of free throws from Dominique White (Lubbock, Texas/Potomac Falls) leveled things up at 39 apiece in Goucher's Landmark matchup against Elizabethtown, completing a 15-4 run for the Gophers after they trailed by 11 points at the intermission.

Goucher, though, scored only 10 more points the rest of the way, as the visiting Blue Jays retook control and finished off a 62-49 victory at the Decker Sports & Recreation Center.

Four different players scored in double figures for the Gophers (4-11, 0-7 Landmark) in their first-ever conference matchup against Elizabethtown (10-4, 4-4 Landmark). Olivia Nono (Silver Spring, Md./Montgomery Blair) led the way with 11 points and 10 rebounds, securing her fourth double-double of the season.

After falling behind 6-0 early on, a jumper by Jaida Scarborough (Baltimore, Md./Digital Harbor) gave Goucher its first lead at 10-9 with 12:36 to go in the first half. A Nono basket made it 14-13, Gophers, shortly afterwards, but that would turn out to be their final lead of the contest.

The Blue Jays followed that jumper with a 10-1 run, and they would lead by as many as 13 points before settling for a 35-24 advantage heading into the break. Rachel Forjan accounted for much of the damage for the visitors, as 15 of her game-high 17 points came in the opening 20 minutes.

Goucher scored on three of its first four possessions in the second half, slowly chipping away at the deficit. After White's free throws tied things up, however, Elizabethtown fired off a 7-0 run. The Gophers got back within three at 48-45 with 7:36 left, but the Blue Jays scored 10 of the next 11 points and were never threatened again.

Scarborough, White and Briana Bull (Baltimore, Md./Owings Mills) joined Nono in double figures, with each contributing 10 points apiece. Bull added seven rebounds, including three on the offensive end. Goucher again struggled with ball control, committing 17 turnovers which led to 17 points on the other end.

This was only the second meeting between the new Landmark rivals in women's basketball, with the other matchup taking place 16 years ago during the 1998-99 season.

The Gophers will look to end their conference slide next Wednesday at Susquehanna. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.