Monday, December 3, 2007

VAN DINE POSTS 21, TUSCULUM WOMEN BEAT BOBCATS 85-56

BANNER ELK, N.C. --- Nikki Van Dine recorded 21 points for a second straight game to lead the Tusculum College women’s basketball team to an 85-56 road win over Lees-McRae College Monday night. The Pioneers (5-2) tallied 13 three-pointers, including Van Dine’s 7-for-9 performance from beyond the arc.

Ashli Oliver added 18 points, including her four 3-pointers, while Stephany Neptune posted her second straight double-double with 12 points and a dozen rebounds.

With Lees-McRae leading 22-18 in the first half, the Pioneers erupted for 24 unanswered points in a span of 8:36. During the run, Tusculum went 9-for-15, while limiting the Lady Bobcats to 0-for-12 shooting and forced six turnovers. Neptune tallied eight of her 12 points during the run, while Oliver added seven markers.

Tusculum would eventually take a 47-26 lead into the locker room as the Pioneers shot 17-for-35 in the first half, including 8-for-16 from beyond the arc. LMC shot 35 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes.

In the second half, TC opened with a 10-2 run in the first 2:43 to go up 57-28 to put the game out of reach.

Ten of the 12 players that saw action for the Pioneers recorded points, including Jennifer Wilson (8), Jasmine Parker (7) and Shantae Shank (6). Parker dished out seven assists, while Jasmine Gunn tallied six helpers in the victory.

Tusculum finished the game shooting 13-for-24 (54.2%) from the floor, while holding Lees-McRae to 30.2 percent (16-53).

Brittany Roberson led LMC with 15 points, while Jessica Lunsford accounted 11 markers in the loss.

Tusculum returns home on Thursday for a 6 p.m. contest against King College at Pioneer Arena.

- TC –