Wednesday, January 9, 2008

TUSCULUM WOMEN WIN EIGHTH IN A ROW, PIONEERS DOWN LMU 96-72

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Freshman Jasmine Gunn’s career-high 28 points led the Tusculum College women’s basketball team to their eighth straight win Wednesday night, defeating South Atlantic Conference rival Lincoln Memorial, 96-72.

Tusculum improves to 11-2 overall and 2-0 in the league, while LMU falls to 6-6, 0-3 SAC. The Pioneers are off to their best start in over a decade. The last time TC was 11-2 through 13 games was the 1994-95 campaign.

Gunn shot 11-for-16 from the floor, including 3-for-4 from three-point territory. She dished out 10 assists and pulled down seven rebounds in the win.

Nikki Van Dine added 17 points on five 3-pointers, while Ashli Oliver contributed 16 points and four treys. Jasmine Parker and Kat Spears poured in 13 and 10 points, respectively.

LMU’s Heather Benton accounted for 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting, while Shawna Nicols finished with 16 points and seven assists. Teammates Andi Winney (11) and Megan Davis (10) rounded out the scoring for the Lady Railsplitters.

Tusculum used a 14-3 run in the second half, including eight straight points, a three-pointer and a three-point play by Gunn as TC led 75-61 with nine minutes left in the game. TC lead used a 7-0 spurt to put the game out of reach.

It was a close contest in the first half, which saw five ties and six lead changes. LMU led 9-6 at the 16:30 mark following a jumper by Heather Benton. TC answered with a 12-3 run over the next four minutes, capped off by a three-pointer by Parker to give the Pioneers an 18-12 lead.

TC would increase their advantage to eight points (26-18), before LMU would whittle away at the deficit and eventually tie the game at 34-34 with 4:10 left. The Lady Railsplitters used a 16-8 run as Stephanie Wagner canned a three-pointer and Nicols made six straight free throws. TC answered with a 7-0 run, including back-to-back lay-ups by Parker as the Pioneers would take a 47-42 lead into the locker room.

In the second half, LMU went on a 10-4 run and tied the game for the sixth time at 56-56 following a three-pointer by Kara Harris and a Benton lay-up with 16:03 remaining. Following a technical foul on the LMU bench, TC took the lead for good on a free throw by Oliver at 57-56 and setting up Tusculum’s 14-3 run.

Tusculum converted 32 fast-break points and converted 18 LMU turnovers into 28 points. Both teams shots extremely well. The Pioneers shot 57 percent, including a sizzling 13-for-18 from three-point territory (72.2%). LMU fired 50.9 percent for the game, including 68 percent in the opening period.

The Pioneers return to action Saturday when they host Catawba for a 2 p.m. league tilt. LMU will be home on Saturday, hosting Brevard in a non-conference contest.

- TC -