Saturday, February 2, 2008

TUSCULUM WOMEN OUTLAST BEARS 69-67, ASHLI OLIVER SCORES 1,000^TH CAREER POINT

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Junior Ashli Oliver scored 17 points, including the 1,000th of her career to aid the Tusculum women’s basketball team to a thrilling 69-67 victory over South Atlantic Conference foe Lenoir-Rhyne Saturday afternoon at Pioneer Arena. The Pioneers (17-3, 7-1 SAC) remain undefeated at home this year (9-0) and sweep the season series over the Bears (10-9, 2-6 SAC).

The game was a battle down to the wire as freshman Jasmine Parker came up with a huge offensive rebound and made a pair of free throws with 5.5 seconds remaining to break a 67-67 tie.

Shantae Shank posted 13 points and seven rebounds, while Kat Spears and Nikki Van Dine each finished with 10 points each. Stephany Neptune added eight points and a game-best 10 rebounds, before fouling out with five minutes left in the contest. Neptune has her string of consecutive double-double games come to an end at four in a row.

The Bears were led by Amber Holt, who paced all scorers with 23 points, shooting 15-for-17 from the free throw line, including 10-of-11 in the second half. Holt also finished with eight boards, five assists, two blocks and four steals. LaCourtney Rann tallied 11 points and six rebounds for the Bears.

The Pioneers (No. 9 in NCAA II South Atlantic Region) utilized a 13-0 run early in the contest to take a 13-3 lead at the 16:22 mark, capped off by three straight 3-pointers by Oliver, including her 1,000 point. L-R battled back to cut the deficit to 22-21 following a three-pointer by Abby Munn. The lead would bounce back and forth until Holt was fouled at the buzzer on a rebound and made two free throws to give the Bears a 31-30 advantage heading into the locker room.

TC came out strong in the second half and used a 9-0 run in the first three minutes, including a three-pointer by Van Dine to give the Pioneers a 39-31 edge. With Tusculum leading 49-41 with 10:34 remaining, L-R went on a 15-6 spurt and took the lead at the 5:37 mark on a Rann basket.

With the Bears leading 60-58, Tusculum went on a 7-1 spurt to move up 65-61 following two free throws by Spears. L-R fought back and tied the game at 65-65 on a lay-up by Holt with 1:11 left on the clock. TC went back on top by two (67-65) on a pair of free throws by Shank with 46 seconds. Holt tied the game for the eighth time as she missed a jumper, but got the rebound back and was fouled. She canned her two free throws to knot the game at 67-67 with 34 ticks on the scoreboard.

Tusculum worked the ball to Shank, whose lay-up was off target, but Parker came down with the huge rebound and was fouled. The Rex, Ga. rookie calmly made both free throws, giving the Pioneers the lead. L-R had won last chance to tie the game, but Rann’s 13-foot jumper at the buzzer rimmed out as the Pioneers held on for the victory.

TC freshman Jasmine Gunn tallied seven points and six assists, before fouling out of the contest with under six minutes left in the game.

Jackie Williams led the Bears on the glass with her nine rebounds, to go along with five points.

Tusculum will be on the road Wednesday when the Pioneers take on in-state rival Lincoln Memorial. The Bears will be back at home on Wednesday as they host Brevard.

- TC -