Gophers Battle Back Against Drew

MADISON, N.J. - The Goucher College women's basketball team whittled an 18-point first quarter deficit down to five, but host Drew University held off the Gophers for an 88-78 Landmark Conference victory Saturday afternoon at Baldwin Gymnasium.

• Drew (3-1, 2-0 Landmark) never trailed and opened an 11-2 lead three minutes into the game.
• The Rangers opened their biggest lead on Goucher (4-2, 0-2), 28-10, with 33 seconds left in the quarter.
• A late Merci Turner three made it 28-14 after 10 minutes.

• The Gophers chipped away and back-to-back Meona Boykin baskets made it 37-28 4:17 before halftime.
• Drew scored the next eight points to rebuild a 17-point cushion.
• Goucher got within 11, 45-34, on a Lauryn Towns basket with just under a minute left, and trailed 48-35 at the break.

• An 8-0 Goucher run capped by a Sanai Knox basket pulled Goucher within six, 52-46, with 7:12 on the clock.
• Drew pushed the lead back to 13 with a 9-2 run of its own before eight straight Gopher points made it 61-56 on a Boykin field goal at the 1:50 mark.
• The Rangers clung to a 65-60 lead through three quarters.

• Goucher cut the lead to five two more times before a 7-0 Drew spurt made it 79-67 with five minutes left.
• Boykin's putback at the 3:08 mark pulled the guests within six, 82-76.
• Drew scored the next six points to make it 88-76 with 1:30 left.

• Boykin posted her second double-double of the season with 20 points and 12 rebounds, going 9-17 from the floor.  She aoso recorded four steals.
• Maiya Villanueva connected on all four of her three point attempts and finished with 15 points.
• Amira Whitaker also totaled 15 points and grabbed five rebounds.  
• Knox, Towns and Nia Edens all chipped in with six points apiece.
• Goucher shot 31.9% overall, was 12-19 at the free throw line and 6-31 from three.
• The Gophers, who forced 38 Ranger turnovers and registered 24 steals, were edged on the boards by Drew 52-51.
• Drew shot 47.5% overall was 12-25 behind the arc and 20-28 at the free throw line.

• Goucher is idle until December 4 when it travels to Moravian for a 7 pm Landmark Conference game.
• The Gophers are back home Saturday, December 7, hosting Scranton at 2 pm at the Decker Sports and Recreation Center.