Wednesday, January 30, 2008
GUNN SCORES 31, TUSCULUM BEATS MARS HILL
95-65
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GREENEVILLE,
Tenn. --- Jasmine Gunn scored
a career-high 31 points to lead the Tusculum College women's basketball team
to a 95-65 victory over Mars Hill Wednesday night in Pioneer Arena. Tusculum
(16-3, 6-1 SAC) maintains a share of first place in the South Atlantic Conference,
while remaining undefeated at home (8-0).
Gunn (Nashville, Tenn.) added
seven assists, six rebounds and four steals. She scored 19 of her 31 points in
the first half of play. Stephany Neptune (Wallkill, N.Y.) followed
recording a double-double with 14 points and 10 boards. It was her fourth straight double-double and
SAC leading 13th of the season. Shantae Shank (Charlotte, N.C.) rounded out the double-figure scorers for
the Pioneers with 13 points. TC scored 48 points in the paint, 38 points off
Lion miscues, 26 points off the break and edged MHC in
rebounds, 42-40.
Brittini
Young (Ramseur, N.C.) led
MHC with14 points and seven boards. Jessica
Blanford (Concord, N.C.) added 12 points and nine
rebounds while Ariel Okunowo
(Decatur, Ga.) added 11 points and five assists. Allison Schafer (Advance, N.C.)
was the only other Lion in double-digits in scoring with 10.
The first 12 minutes of the game
were closely played. Kat Spears
(Memphis, Tenn.) hit a pair of free throws to give the Pioneers a 25-24 lead
with 7:19 left in the first half and TC would not trail again. The Pioneers
went on a 16-8 run to close out the first frame and take a nine-point lead
(41-32) lead into the locker room at the intermission.
The second half belonged to
Tusculum as they out scored MHC 54-33 in the final period. The Pioneers went on
another 16-8 run to start the final stanza and take a 17-point lead with 14:12
left in the contest after Neptune hit a shot in the lane. MHC would not get any
closer down the stretch as TC extended their advantage to 23 points (67-46)
five minutes later when Ashli Oliver (Kokomo, Ind.) hit a layup. A Lindsay Roberts (Murphy, N.C.) jumper
trimmed the Lions' deficit to 18 points with 5:29 left in regulation but that
was as close as MHC would get.
Tusculum will host SAC rival
Lenoir-Rhyne College Saturday at 2 p.m., while Mars Hill will be at Brevard in
a non-conference affair.
- TC -