Sunday, December 9, 2007

 

TUSCULUM WOMEN WIN AT SOUTHERN INDIANA, 74-69

"Neptune Pulls Down Career-High 18 Rebounds in Fourth Straight Win"

 

Stephany Neptune                EVANSVILLE, Ind. --- Stephany Neptune recorded 14 points and a career-high 18 rebounds to lead the Tusculum College women's basketball team to a 74-69 road win at the University of Southern Indiana, Sunday afternoon.

 

                Neptune was one of five players to score in double digits for Tusculum.  Junior Shantae Shank came off the bench to contribute a career-best 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting.  Ashli Oliver added 14 points, while Jasmine Gunn and Nikki Van Dine finished with 10 points each.

 

                USI's Jasmine Baines posted 20 points, while Brittany Neuman finished with career-best double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds.

 

                Tusculum (7-2) took a 43-28 lead at the half as the Pioneers forced 14 turnovers, including eight in the first seven minutes of the game.  TC shot 47.1 percent from the floor in the first 20 minutes while getting a dozen markers each from Oliver and Shank.  The Screaming Eagles shot 38.7 percent from the floor in the opening frame and trailed by as many as 18 on two occasions.  The Pioneers used a 16-2 run over a span of 5:04 to move up 26-9 following a jumped by Neptune at the 11:06 mark.

 

                USI (3-2) rallied in the second half, using a 20-3 run that lasted seven minutes that trimmed the deficit to 51-48 with 11:31 remaining.

 

                Tusculum answered with a 9-0 spurt in the half to extend its lead to 12 points (62-50) with less than seven minutes on the clock.

 

                The Eagles chipped away at the lead again, cutting the deficit to three points (67-64) after a pair of Baines’ free throws with just over a minute to play.

                                        

                The Pioneers went 7-of-8 from the free throw in the last minute to keep the Eagles at bay and clinch TC's fourth straight victory.

 

                Tusculum's defense continues to be stellar as the Pioneers forced 22 turnovers, converting those miscues into 18 points.  Gunn led TC with three steals, while Neptune accounted for two steals and four blocked shots.

 

                For Neptune, it was her fifth double-double of the season and third in four games.  She is averaging 13.2 points and 10.1 rebounds per game this season

 

                The Pioneers continue their four-game road swing on Thursday against in-state foe King College beginning at 2 p.m. in Bristol, Tenn.  Tusculum defeated the Tornado 76-68 last Thursday in Greeneville.

 

- TC -